2005 LOTUS ELISE low

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FITTING ROOF STAYS
Soft Top Roof - Fitting
WARNING:Do not attempt to fit the soft top roof whilst the car is in
motion. This could cause a crash in which you or others
could be killed or seriously injured.
1. From its stowage bag in the rear luggage compartment, with-
draw the roof assembly and support stays. Lower both door
windows, or open both doors.
2. Insert the two, identical, roof support stays, with the arrows pointing forwards, into the slots above the rear window, and
in the windscreen header rail. Note that the slots are keyed
to allow fitment of the stays in only the correct orientation.
3. Lay the soft top roof across the centre of the roof space with
the arrows on the side rails pointing forwards.
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Arrows
point for ward
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RELEASING ROOF SIDE RAIL
Soft Top - Removal
WARNING:Do not attempt to remove the soft top roof whilst the
car is in motion. This could cause a crash in which you or
others could be killed or seriously injured.
1. With the car stationary, open both doors or lower both door windows.
2. On the inside face of the right hand roof side rail, locate the
two latch release levers: Pull the two lever handles towards each other to release the side rail latches (press down on the
side rail if necessary to relieve the load on the latch pins), and rotate the rail upwards to release the canopy tension.
3. Repeat step (2) for the
left hand side rail.
NOTICE: Releasing the right hand roof side rail first, will minimise
the possibility of the canopy tensioning cable adjusters causing damage to the roof seals.
4. Free the front and rear tensioning cables from the gutters be
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fore carefully rolling up each side of the roof canopy towards the centre. Lift the roof assembly off the car, and pack in the
roof bag.
External Operations
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5. Unhook the two roof stays and pack in the roof bag. Stow the
bag in the rear luggage compartment.
NOTICE: If the roof is not fully dry, it should be stowed for no longer than 1 or 2 days before unrolling or refitting and allowing
to air dry completely. Prolonged stowage of a wet or damp roof
will promote rotting of the fabric.
HARD TOP ROOF
NOTICE:
• The hard top roof has been designed to provide a seasonal,
rather than single trip option. Some owners may prefer to
entrust the fitting and removal of the hard top roof to their
dealer.
• When stowing the roof off the car, care should be taken to
avoid damage to the roof corners; e.g. use a suitable soft
floor covering on which to stand the roof. Note that there is
no provision for on-board hard top roof stowage.
• Fitment or removal of the hardtop is made considerably easier
with the assistance of a second person.
• Use only the ‘Torx’ tool supplied in the car tool kit (in the
battery cover rear pocket), to tighten or release the roof

fixing screws.
• The hardtop roof fixings are tethered to the roof panel to guard
against their loss.
WARNING:
Take care to avoid trapping hands or fingers when fitting
or removing the hard top.
External Operations
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FRONT SPIGOT BRACKET
Hard Top - Fitting
1. Open both doors, and preferably with the aid of an assistant, lower the roof onto the car holding aside the loose tethered
fixings to avoid their entrapment or their causing paint damage. Position the rear edge of the roof first before locating the front
edge against the windscreen header rail.
2. Locate a front spigot bracket into its latch plate lower slot (lifting the roof slightly to allow this) and retain to the roof with the Torx bolt. Use only the special Torx tool supplied in the car tool kit (stowed in the battery cover pocket), and do not
fully tighten at this stage.
3. Repeat step (2) for the opposite front spigot bracket.
External Operations
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4. Engage a rear hook bracket with the lower tongue on its rear latch plate, and retain to the roof with the Torx bolt. Use only
the special tool supplied, and do not fully tighten at this stage.
Ensure that the hook is fully located onto the tongue.
5. Repeat step (4) for the opposite rear hook bracket. 6. Push the roof fully forwards before tightening the front spigot brackets using only the special Torx tool supplied. Hold each
rear hook bracket in alignment whilst tightening the single
fixing screw for each bracket. Do not overtighten.
h2
FITTING REAR HOOK BRACKET
External Operations
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SERVICING AND MAINTENANCEBODYCARE
Body Features Lotus are among the world leaders in the field of automotive
composite moulding design and manufacturing techniques.
Composite materials have major advantages for specialist car bodies, and these brief notes introduce some features of the
construction and service properties of automotive composite bodies. The manufacturing process enables the thickness of com
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posite mouldings to be varied in order to provide ef ficient structures of high strength and low weight. Composites will not
corrode, so the strength of composite components is retained regardless of age, unless physical damage is sustained. On
the Elise, the body construction utilises several mouldings to
form a single unit for the whole of the nose and front wings, and
a second unit for the whole of the rear body aft of the doors.
These two moulded assemblies are fixed using threaded fasten
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ers to permit easy removal for access to chassis or powertrain
components, or to allow simple and economic accident repair.
Other composite mouldings include the door shells, sills, front access panels, windscreen frame and rear bulkhead, some panels being bonded to the aluminium alloy chassis with an
elastomeric adhesive.
Several different processes are used to manufacture the
various panels depending on the functional requirements, with the main outer panels using an injection compression mould
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ing technique which eliminates the ‘gelcoat’ used on the outer
surface of conventionally manufactured composite panels. This
process provides considerably increased resistance to surface
damage from minor knocks, where a conventional composite panel would suffer cracking of the gel coat, or a steel panel be
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come dented. If severe damage is caused to a composite panel
where the underlying structure is broken, repairs may take the
form of panel replacement, or of panel repair using techniques
where new composite material is integrated with the old to result in undiminished panel strength.
Servicing & Maintenance
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NOTICE: The Elise is not equipped with conventional separate shock absorbing bumpers, so extra care should be taken when parking to guard against body damage. The Lotus Elise does
not offer the same kind and degree of impact resistance or
energy absorption afforded by conventional U.S. bumper sys
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tems. Care is also required, due to the low ground clearance, to guard against car underside damage caused by ramps, kerbs
and road humps.
Paint Care The acr ylic enamel finish of the Lotus Elise is extremely
resistant to all normal forms of atmospheric attack. Following
the simple maintenance procedure summarised below will help retain the gloss, colour and protective properties of the paint
throughout the life of the car. However, car finishes are not im
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mune to damage and amongst the more common causes of deterioration are:
- Atmospheric contaminants; dust, soot, ash, and acidic or
alkaline aerosol mist can chemically attack paint.
- Abrasion; blowing sand and dust, or a dirty washing cloth.
- Tree sap and insect fluids; can form a water-insoluble polymer
that adheres to the paint.
- Bird excrement; highly acidic or alkaline, they can chemically etch the paint. Wash off immediately.
- Leaves; contain tannic acid which can stain light finishes.
- Impact damage; granite chippings thrown up from poor or recently dressed road surfaces can subject the body to severe
localised impact, and result in paint chips, especially around
the vulnerable frontal panels. Do not follow other cars too closely in such circumstances. For optimum paintwork pro
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tection, Lotus recommends the use of a self adhesive film kit
which your dealer will be pleased to supply and/or fit.
- Moisture entrapment; Long term use of a non-breathable car cover can trap moisture and/or induce condensation and promote water penetration of the paint film.
Ventilation Water lying on the paint surface for a lengthy period will even
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tually penetrate the paint film. Although the effects will not be
visible immediately, a deterioration in the protective properties
of the paint film will ultimately result.
Servicing & Maintenance
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Soft Top Roof
1. Careful vacuuming of the soft top before washing may be
helpful in removing excess dust and other foreign particles.
2. Wash in partial shade rather than strong sunlight.
3. Using only clean lukewarm water and a sponge (a chamois or
cloth will leave lint, and a brush may abrade the threads), wash
the entire soft top uniformly. Do NOT use a detergent, which may
affect the waterproofing properties of the material.
4. Rinse the whole car to prevent streaking on the paintwork. 5. Remove surface water with a sponge and allow to air dry in direct sunlight. Ensure that the roof is fully dry before stow
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ing, as prolonged stowage of a wet or damp roof will promote
rotting of the fabric.
Keeping the soft top clean by regular washing will enhance
the life and maintain the appearance of the roof, and facilitate subsequent cleaning. The use of stronger cleansers should be left to professionals experienced in handling this type of fabric
as discoloration and degradation of the material may result.
The application of wax finishes, dressings or preservatives may cause stains, and should be avoided. Your dealer will be able to advise on current Lotus approved soft top care products.
Windscreen Cleaning When washing the windscreen, take care to lift the wiper
blade only a small distance from the glass in order not to dam
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age the wiper arm mechanism. Wash the wiper blade with

clean water.
Alloy Road Wheels It is recommended that the aluminium alloy road wheels
are washed with the same preparation as is used to wash the bodywork. Use a brush having only nylon bristles. During the
winter months, particularly when salt has been used on the
roads for the dispersal of snow and ice, remove all the wheels,
and wash thoroughly to remove all accumulated road filth from
the wheels and Tires. Be aware that on cars fitted with optional clear anodised
forged alloy wheels (with 7 twin-spokes), the anodised surface
finish may be attacked by some proprietary wheel cleaning products. Wash only using hot soapy water or car bodywork
shampoo. Advise tire fitting companies accordingly.
Servicing & Maintenance
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