Lotus Elise Service Notes page 589

Lotus Service Notes Exige
To remove:
1. Remove both front road wheels and wheelarch liners.
2. At each side, remove the M8 fixing securing the clamshell to the sill front extension panel.
3. Remove the single M8 screw securing each top rear comer of the clamshell to a bracket at the top of the
'A' post.
4. Remove the four fixings in the bonnet gutter, one at each rear end, and one in each front comer. The rear
pair are also used as adjustable mounts for the bonnet closing buffers, and use M8 captive fixings in the
screen frame buttresses. The front pair use M8 captive fixings in the radiator mounting panel. Take note
of the shim stacks fitted at each of the fixing points.
5. From beneath the nose, remove the five screws securing the rear edge of the splitter panel to the alloy
undershield.
6. Disconnect the clamshell wiring harness at the driver's side of the front compartment, and lift the clamshell
from the car. Note any spacing washers or shims fitted at any fixing point.
7. Refit the clamshell in reverse order to removal, taking care to retain any spacer washers in their original
positions.
Rear Clamshell
The rear clamshell fixings differ from the standard Elise in using vertical alloy panels bonded to the shell
either side of the luggage space, and secured to the top surface of the rear longerons. The front upper edge of
the shell is secured to the rear edge of the roof panel, and the bottom front edges of the clamshell wrap beneath
the rear end of the sills. The early type boot floor is used, incorporating a rearward extension to pick up the
clamshell behind the rear licence plate.
To remove:
1. Remove both rear road wheels and wheelarch liners.
2. Mark its position before releasing the tailgate panel from the hinge blade, noting any shim plates. Discon-
nect the release cable from the tailgate latch, and release any cable fixings.
3. Remove the trim panel from each side of the engine bay after releasing the fixings to the clamshell gutter
and engine bay front surround.
4. Remove the fuel filler cap and release the four screws securing the fuel filler neck to the clamshell.
Remove the washer ring, and withdraw the neck from the clamshell aperture.
5. Release the single screw each side securing the front of the clamshell gutter to the engine bay front
surround.
6. Release the three screws each side securing the clamshell support plates to the top of the longerons.
7. Remove the rear number plate and release the single fixing securing the clamshell to the boot tray.
3. Disconnect the rear harness at the LH rear of the luggage compartment, and the harness connectors to
the rear fog and reverse lamps.
9. Release the fixings securing the bottom edge of the clamshell to the tank bay closing panel, and that
securing the front of each wheelarch to the body sill.
10. From inside the cockpit, release the clamshell front fixing from inside each 'B' post.
11. From the door aperture, remove the two fixings securing the front edge of the clamshell.
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