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Lotus in the Peak
28th - 30th June 2024

Creaky / Loose Roof On Exige S2


Ian C

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Hi,

 

Anyone know how I can tighten the roof up on exige? Not sure how the "j" bracket works (the bracket that's covered by a cover behind your ear? On one side I can pull on the roof and it visibly moves a few mill.

 

The squeaking is driving me mad!

 

Cheers

 

Ian

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I've loosened the roof put some silicone lube on. Hopefully will help until I have time to remove the whole roof.

 

On the one side the roof is a perfect fit, when you try to lift the roof it doesn't move at all. There's lots of vertical play on the other side.

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The bolts need to be FT and I mean FT.

 

Make sure you have the correct allen key (star key I think its called) that is in good condition and an extension so it is aligned before you try to tighten it with an easy to hold screw driver.  Make sure the J clip is lined up ok and the screw is not cross threaded.

 

I find tightening a bit and banging the roof down with the palm of your hand and tightening again works well. Only takes 5 mins max.  Check the front as well.

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Strangely, my Elise's roof has started creaking in the last two days - right behind my right ear.  I have done well over 200 miles in the last two days, but that's no excuse!!

 

Will try just tightening the torx head screws first before taking it off though - they're a complete bugg*r to get back on again and properly seated down.

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i use KY and it doesn't make a sound !

 

i take my time and tighten up the bolts in rotation, ensuring the rubbers are all seated correctly and don't have an issue.

 

not that i take the roof off the exige much obviously .........that would be wrong.

its rare to get any squeaks at this time of year, high summer when things dry out maybe ?

 

i'd suggest try and try again until it stops squeaking, trial/ error and lubrication

 

hth

 

richbk

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The Deroure parts list for the Exige V6 roof panel, item 28, has an interesting listing for Carbaflow XTR5...:

 

http://www.deroure.com/diagrams.asp?TBL=6201&MAK=1&MDL=40&SMA=0&SMO=0&ST=&SC=0

 

This is a Fuchs lubricant product. Here is the product page:

 

http://www.fuchs-lubritech.com/products/release-agents/overview/product/show/carbaflo-xtr-5f-1181.html

 

The Fuchs desription clearly states use as "avoid squeaking noise in the vehicle interior and for sealing systems". If it's used by Lotus, it must be safe for use on their seals.

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I was planing to take the roof off my v6 exige this year is this not a good idea then ????

Well, the roof of the Roadster (unlike the Coupe) is supposed to be removable. Where the hard roof option is specified for the Roadster, other than differences in the fixings and lack of correonding mounting points for the soft top with the Coupe, the hard roof panel is the essentially the same.

 

My roof didn't creak as fitted from the factory - but it does after refitting the hard top for winter. This creaking roof is the "least" troublesome of its various faults...

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Doesn't sound good, what faults has it developed?

At the risk of allowing "thread drift"... my frustrations in no particular order are:

Creaking hard top (yay!)

Soft top didn't fit (defective from factory, replaced under warranty).

Major cabin water leaks (the cabin would be dryer with no roof at all).

Rear hatch grill-fixing nuts corroding and leaching ferrous oxide wherever water runs, staining the black trim and gutters (10 nuts replaced under warranty - thrice).

Rear hatch leaking n/s gas strut (replaced under warranty).

Failed battery (replaced myself - with a better model).

Failed engine protection valve solenoid (failed and replaced twice under waranty - currently awaiting further replacement/investigation following failure for the third time).

Utterly useless auxiliary switch illimination (yes, we all know about that - and we all share in this frustration in "great design").

Poor dipped headlight illimination (Why? Same headlamp units as my previous Elise S3).

 

To be clear, I actually really like my Exige V6 and don't regret owning one - but, I would like it ever so much more if stupid issues didn't have it visiting the dealer for remedial work quite so often. Again, to be absolutely clear, I can't fault the dealer.

 

For those that have an Exige V6, in any variant, you may want to check your exhaust valving. If it doesn't open/close correctly under ECU or manual control, or sticks in either the open or closed position when the engine bay is warm, then your control solenoid may be failing or totally stuffed. Having extensively investigated the issue (as an Engieer), I have really good idea what is causing the failures; Garage Queens that only see dry fine weather are unlikely to suffer from the fault :-)

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