Pauls Exige 410 Sport
Discussion
alscar said:
Paul , are those Front speakers a direct replacement ie undo and simply replace job for a relative imbecile ( ie me ) and is the difference with the head unit worth doing it for ?
Yep, they are a direct replacement. You change the actual speaker, and then refit the original Lotus plastic ring and grill on top of it.It's just a bit of a pain, rather than difficult. You need to get the grills off first and they can be a bit stiff. You need to poke something through the holes in the grill to enable you to pull them upwards. The screws for the speaker aren't tight, but are awkward to get to. My tiny ratchet set was a godsend for that part of the job. Then finally the speakers themselves are a little bit stuck to the dash. Again, it's just a case of finding something to lever them up without damaging the dash.
The connectors swap straight across, but I found them a bit loose on the new speakers. I simply closed the connector up a bit using some pliers and all was good.
I can't really comment on the difference with the head unit as I hadn't listened to old one much. The main reason I wanted to change was so I could have some sort of integrated Sat Nav. The SPH-10BT acting as a head unit screen and phone holder seemed like a nice solution.
Next on the list of things to do was change the way my exhaust worked.
From early on, the car had been fitted with the Komotec remote control exhaust override kit. This let you choose either permanently closed or permanently open from a key fob. I wanted to get rid of this for a few reasons. 1) It seemed to be playing up a bit, and would keep randomly closing the exhaust when it should be open, 2) it's a bit risky as the exhaust will not open automatically at 4500rpm to protect the engine, and 3) fumbling for the key fob and pressing a button is not the most user friendly of activities.
I ordered the standard Lotus Switch and fitted it to the cowling.
The next step was to go to the engine bay and figure out the komotec kit and how to reverse it. Once I removed the plastic covers, this was what I was met with:
The right hand solenoid is the Komotec one which had been attached alongside the standard one. T-Pieces had obviously been added to the vacuum piping to supply it and the output tee'd into the tubing going to the exhaust. "This should be easy" I thought, "I just need to remove the pipes from the Komotec solenoid and blank them off.
I did exactly that, then fired up the engine. Pressed the button on the dash, and got 'EX OPEN' displayed. No change in exhaust note though. I could hear something happening in the engine bay when I pressed the button though, so I knew the switch and ECU were trying to do something.
The exhaust works by having vacuum pressure applied to the actuator. When you want to open the valve, you remove the vacuum. But you also need to vent the pressure, otherwise it will be trapped and nothing will happen. I removed the solenoid from the car and blew into each port. At this point I realised it was bottom port which is vented to atmosphere when the solenoid is closed. As you can see from the photo the exhaust tubing had been attached to the top port at some point. I refitted the solenoid back to the car, swapped the top and bottom tubes around and everything now works perfectly. (The noise I could hear in the engine bay when I pressed the button was the vacuum tank being vented to atmosphere).
The plastic covers I removed were looking a bit tatty, so while they were off I gave them a good clean, and a coating of CQuartz Lite to rejuvenate and protect them.
Before:
After:
From early on, the car had been fitted with the Komotec remote control exhaust override kit. This let you choose either permanently closed or permanently open from a key fob. I wanted to get rid of this for a few reasons. 1) It seemed to be playing up a bit, and would keep randomly closing the exhaust when it should be open, 2) it's a bit risky as the exhaust will not open automatically at 4500rpm to protect the engine, and 3) fumbling for the key fob and pressing a button is not the most user friendly of activities.
I ordered the standard Lotus Switch and fitted it to the cowling.
The next step was to go to the engine bay and figure out the komotec kit and how to reverse it. Once I removed the plastic covers, this was what I was met with:
The right hand solenoid is the Komotec one which had been attached alongside the standard one. T-Pieces had obviously been added to the vacuum piping to supply it and the output tee'd into the tubing going to the exhaust. "This should be easy" I thought, "I just need to remove the pipes from the Komotec solenoid and blank them off.
I did exactly that, then fired up the engine. Pressed the button on the dash, and got 'EX OPEN' displayed. No change in exhaust note though. I could hear something happening in the engine bay when I pressed the button though, so I knew the switch and ECU were trying to do something.
The exhaust works by having vacuum pressure applied to the actuator. When you want to open the valve, you remove the vacuum. But you also need to vent the pressure, otherwise it will be trapped and nothing will happen. I removed the solenoid from the car and blew into each port. At this point I realised it was bottom port which is vented to atmosphere when the solenoid is closed. As you can see from the photo the exhaust tubing had been attached to the top port at some point. I refitted the solenoid back to the car, swapped the top and bottom tubes around and everything now works perfectly. (The noise I could hear in the engine bay when I pressed the button was the vacuum tank being vented to atmosphere).
The plastic covers I removed were looking a bit tatty, so while they were off I gave them a good clean, and a coating of CQuartz Lite to rejuvenate and protect them.
Before:
After:
Paul_M3 said:
Juno said:
Great idea with the plate
PS where did you pick up the bolts from
The bolts were from carbolts.co.uk. PS where did you pick up the bolts from
Sold in packs of ten, but not expensive.
RevsPerMinute said:
great shout, just ordered some black bolts for my spoiler. I have already changed my fuel filler ring, I have also ordered the black bolts for this too.
That's great. Would you mind posting a photograph of the filler ring once you've got the black bolts fitted?(Where did you get your black filler ring from? Is it OEM in terms of fitment, i.e. no issues with the actual filler being stiff to remove or anything like that?)
Paul_M3 said:
RevsPerMinute said:
great shout, just ordered some black bolts for my spoiler. I have already changed my fuel filler ring, I have also ordered the black bolts for this too.
That's great. Would you mind posting a photograph of the filler ring once you've got the black bolts fitted?(Where did you get your black filler ring from? Is it OEM in terms of fitment, i.e. no issues with the actual filler being stiff to remove or anything like that?)
The bolts on the wing have always bothered me though and definitely need to be changed!
RevsPerMinute said:
Tbh I'm unsure if I will swap the bolts out on the ring as the silver bolt heads currently match the silver Key hole in the cap centre and offers contrast.
Yeah, I think you're right. That's why I was interested in seeing a photograph.Thanks for the info on the black filler ring, I've just ordered one.
Paul_M3 said:
Next on the list of things to do was change the way my exhaust worked.
From early on, the car had been fitted with the Komotec remote control exhaust override kit. This let you choose either permanently closed or permanently open from a key fob. I wanted to get rid of this for a few reasons. 1) It seemed to be playing up a bit, and would keep randomly closing the exhaust when it should be open, 2) it's a bit risky as the exhaust will not open automatically at 4500rpm to protect the engine, and 3) fumbling for the key fob and pressing a button is not the most user friendly of activities.
I ordered the standard Lotus Switch and fitted it to the cowling.
The next step was to go to the engine bay and figure out the komotec kit and how to reverse it. Once I removed the plastic covers, this was what I was met with:
The right hand solenoid is the Komotec one which had been attached alongside the standard one. T-Pieces had obviously been added to the vacuum piping to supply it and the output tee'd into the tubing going to the exhaust. "This should be easy" I thought, "I just need to remove the pipes from the Komotec solenoid and blank them off.
I did exactly that, then fired up the engine. Pressed the button on the dash, and got 'EX OPEN' displayed. No change in exhaust note though. I could hear something happening in the engine bay when I pressed the button though, so I knew the switch and ECU were trying to do something.
The exhaust works by having vacuum pressure applied to the actuator. When you want to open the valve, you remove the vacuum. But you also need to vent the pressure, otherwise it will be trapped and nothing will happen. I removed the solenoid from the car and blew into each port. At this point I realised it was bottom port which is vented to atmosphere when the solenoid is closed. As you can see from the photo the exhaust tubing had been attached to the top port at some point. I refitted the solenoid back to the car, swapped the top and bottom tubes around and everything now works perfectly. (The noise I could hear in the engine bay when I pressed the button was the vacuum tank being vented to atmosphere).
The plastic covers I removed were looking a bit tatty, so while they were off I gave them a good clean, and a coating of CQuartz Lite to rejuvenate and protect them.
Before:
After:
Ah that’s interesting I have the silver button on my column which manually opens and closes the valves and as you say comes up EX Open or EX Shut on the dashFrom early on, the car had been fitted with the Komotec remote control exhaust override kit. This let you choose either permanently closed or permanently open from a key fob. I wanted to get rid of this for a few reasons. 1) It seemed to be playing up a bit, and would keep randomly closing the exhaust when it should be open, 2) it's a bit risky as the exhaust will not open automatically at 4500rpm to protect the engine, and 3) fumbling for the key fob and pressing a button is not the most user friendly of activities.
I ordered the standard Lotus Switch and fitted it to the cowling.
The next step was to go to the engine bay and figure out the komotec kit and how to reverse it. Once I removed the plastic covers, this was what I was met with:
The right hand solenoid is the Komotec one which had been attached alongside the standard one. T-Pieces had obviously been added to the vacuum piping to supply it and the output tee'd into the tubing going to the exhaust. "This should be easy" I thought, "I just need to remove the pipes from the Komotec solenoid and blank them off.
I did exactly that, then fired up the engine. Pressed the button on the dash, and got 'EX OPEN' displayed. No change in exhaust note though. I could hear something happening in the engine bay when I pressed the button though, so I knew the switch and ECU were trying to do something.
The exhaust works by having vacuum pressure applied to the actuator. When you want to open the valve, you remove the vacuum. But you also need to vent the pressure, otherwise it will be trapped and nothing will happen. I removed the solenoid from the car and blew into each port. At this point I realised it was bottom port which is vented to atmosphere when the solenoid is closed. As you can see from the photo the exhaust tubing had been attached to the top port at some point. I refitted the solenoid back to the car, swapped the top and bottom tubes around and everything now works perfectly. (The noise I could hear in the engine bay when I pressed the button was the vacuum tank being vented to atmosphere).
The plastic covers I removed were looking a bit tatty, so while they were off I gave them a good clean, and a coating of CQuartz Lite to rejuvenate and protect them.
Before:
After:
Do lotus do the full kit to open the vales manually as well as the switch.
I also have the same switch on the other side which scrolls through the trip info
My friend has just bought the Green 410 from Rybrook and I can’t see the switch in the photos
I thought this was standard kit
Juno said:
Ah that’s interesting I have the silver button on my column which manually opens and closes the valves and as you say comes up EX Open or EX Shut on the dash
Do lotus do the full kit to open the vales manually as well as the switch.
I also have the same switch on the other side which scrolls through the trip info
My friend has just bought the Green 410 from Rybrook and I can’t see the switch in the photos
I thought this was standard kit
None of the 410’s came fitted with the switch from the factory as far as I’m aware. The 410 owners manual ‘add-on ‘states this I think. Do lotus do the full kit to open the vales manually as well as the switch.
I also have the same switch on the other side which scrolls through the trip info
My friend has just bought the Green 410 from Rybrook and I can’t see the switch in the photos
I thought this was standard kit
Any 410 which has the switch, has had it retrofitted by somebody. I think all the 410’s had the wiring present and didn’t need the ECU recoding.
Sorry, I’m not sure what you mean by “Do lotus do the full kit to open the vales manually as well as the switch”?
Paul_M3 said:
Juno said:
Ah that’s interesting I have the silver button on my column which manually opens and closes the valves and as you say comes up EX Open or EX Shut on the dash
Do lotus do the full kit to open the vales manually as well as the switch.
I also have the same switch on the other side which scrolls through the trip info
My friend has just bought the Green 410 from Rybrook and I can’t see the switch in the photos
I thought this was standard kit
None of the 410’s came fitted with the switch from the factory as far as I’m aware. The 410 owners manual ‘add-on ‘states this I think. Do lotus do the full kit to open the vales manually as well as the switch.
I also have the same switch on the other side which scrolls through the trip info
My friend has just bought the Green 410 from Rybrook and I can’t see the switch in the photos
I thought this was standard kit
Any 410 which has the switch, has had it retrofitted by somebody. I think all the 410’s had the wiring present and didn’t need the ECU recoding.
Sorry, I’m not sure what you mean by “Do lotus do the full kit to open the vales manually as well as the switch”?
Juno said:
I was referring to is it just the Lotus switch needed to activate the flaps or do you need an actuator kit as well (non lotus part) or if so do Lotus do one
If you’ve got the standard exhaust (which only opens the valve above 4500rpm as standard) then all you need is the switch from Lotus and you should be able to open the valve all the time. Paul_M3 said:
Juno said:
I was referring to is it just the Lotus switch needed to activate the flaps or do you need an actuator kit as well (non lotus part) or if so do Lotus do one
If you’ve got the standard exhaust (which only opens the valve above 4500rpm as standard) then all you need is the switch from Lotus and you should be able to open the valve all the time. It’s shown in the handbook as standard but I can’t see it on the car he has bought
Maybe the dealer has to fit it!
Mine
His with blanking plug
The Car
Juno said:
Juno said:
Spindoctor said:
Its a simple fit, my dealer did it before I collected the car. Much better to have it (for road use), I want to hear the open exhaust before 4500rpm.
I’ll let him know it’s an easy fit Gassing Station | Elise/Exige/Europa/340R | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff