macey Posted June 25, 2017 Posted June 25, 2017 Hi, I have a 2013 Elise with a stiff boot/engine compartment release mechmanism. Can anyone here tell me how to lubricate the cable?
Meister Posted June 26, 2017 Posted June 26, 2017 Mine is exactly the same (2014 Elise CR S) can't help but think the cable is about to snap every time I open the damn thing! I am due a service tomorrow so will get a second opinion.
Baxter33 Posted June 27, 2017 Posted June 27, 2017 I have a 2012 car and I'm also fearful of the cable snapping! It's pretty stiff
Jonathan E Posted June 28, 2017 Posted June 28, 2017 I can't believe Lotus went back to this system, the S1 cables are delicate unless regularly used and well maintained. Maybe they see it as a money maker post sale
frank7 Posted June 28, 2017 Posted June 28, 2017 I had this issue when recently on a road trip in Belgium - had visions of not being able to open my boot where my pyjamas were stowed! Went to a garage and bought some oil spray called '70 Caramba' which as far as I can make out from the can is roughly the same as WD40, but this is a German product. I stuffed the area around the boot release lever with paper towels to act as a shield and then as carefully as possible sprayed (blindly) upwards and behind the handle. After that I sprayed the actual catch inside the engine compartment. I'm not sure what I actually did but it seemed to have worked. I guess you might also try a silicone spray lubricant which might be a cleaner option although with the tube attachment that came with the spray used my aim was at least assisted and the jet confined so that it didn't spray everywhere. Good luck!
Martin 111S Posted June 28, 2017 Posted June 28, 2017 Something I'm going to look at in due course as apparently they do eventually snap Some folks have replaced the cable with a bike brake cable as its more resilient. Why Lotus went back to this after the S1, is ridiculous as they had known issues then, also the boot isn't secure if leaving the car with the roof off - so nowhere to leave any valuables. At least with the key entry muppets should only have locked it in the boot once.
Meister Posted June 30, 2017 Posted June 30, 2017 Okay so.....My boot release is now perfect! Thanks to Gav at Unit4. Apparently mine was at such at angle it was catching/rubbing. Gav has rerouted and now opens like a hot knife through butter! Mark
Elise147 Posted July 2, 2017 Posted July 2, 2017 As posted above the problem seems more to do with the routing of the cable , my 2015 cable was so stiff it had to be sorted.When Hoffmans removed the original there was kinks at both ends so no wonder everyone has an issue.The new one takes a slightly different route and can be operated with your little finger. stephen
Meister Posted March 12, 2018 Posted March 12, 2018 Bloody boot won’t open! I don’t think the cable has snapped as I can hear it unlock. Tried pushing down on boot and moving side to side while wife keeps pulling release. Uncle Gav not answering his phone all day either! The rascal! Any ideas? Mark
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.