Discussion
Geoff 88Turbo said:
New, first time Lotus owner. First problem since getting the car 6 months ago. Rear hatch only releases on the left side. Anybody else had this problem? What's the best way to fix? The car is an 88 Turbo U.S. model. Also where`s the best place to get shop manuals?
Geoff
Geoff,
This is not the kind of problem you want to have! If the latch sticks or the cable breaks you are in deep sh*t.
There are two ways to get the hatch open. The first is to jack the car up on one side, this can flex the body enough that the errant latch will work free, the second and least fun should the first not work, is to smash through the tail light and reach in and undo the latch manually. Obviously, you'll be buying a tail light if this option is used.
A common problem with the right hand latch is that sometimes it is overtightened, this will cause the latch to stick. Once you get it open, try the latch and then incrementally loosen the large phillips screw securing it until spring releases and the latch opens.
Getting them adjusted is fairly simple. With the car on level ground, open the hatch and loosen the phillips screws on both sides. This allows the latches to 'float' and naturally align with the latch pegs on the hatch itself. Have an assistant hold the release lever open and open/close the hatch several times until you're certain everything aligns and the hatch opens freely.
Then, carefully, so as to not move the latches, tighten them back down (remember not to overtighten the right side). Now comes the part which requires a certain trust to luck, close the hatch, release the lever and try to reopen it. If by chance you messed up and it sticks, try jacking the car up on one side to try to work the latches loose. This generally works although you may have to have several goes at it. But, as I said, these is an element of risk involved.
As for manuals, these can be sourced through any of the usual places such as JAE, RD Ent., SJSportscars etc. Infrequently, they also appear on eBay. Hope this helps. Happy Motoring!... Jim'85TE
>> Edited by lotusguy on Sunday 7th March 18:08
Couple of other things to add. If the worst happens and the cable brakes, there's a guide Lotus Esprit World which is what the factory do.
www.lotusespritworld.com/EMaintenance/HatchCable.html
Along with the latch being too tight, the hatch can go out of alignment, which will need realigning by loosing the bolts that hold the hatch on. This is tricky, but do-able. This is something that obviously needs doing everytime the hatch is removed. I'm sure you'll be able to work out which end is the problem, once you start looking at it.
Also, before closing the hatch to see if it's ok, I used some cloth, which I shut down on. If the hatch sticks, you can pull the cloth up, tie it in a knot and wiggly it left & right which will release the hatch if you've not got the hatch too far out (hope you're following me on this).
The factory became aware of this and during the V8's production, they designed a plastic cover around the latch pegs, which help line up the latch and stops this particular problem. Not sure if they can be retro fitted, but I can find out!
kato
Lotus Esprit World
www.lotusespritworld.com/EMaintenance/HatchCable.html
Along with the latch being too tight, the hatch can go out of alignment, which will need realigning by loosing the bolts that hold the hatch on. This is tricky, but do-able. This is something that obviously needs doing everytime the hatch is removed. I'm sure you'll be able to work out which end is the problem, once you start looking at it.
Also, before closing the hatch to see if it's ok, I used some cloth, which I shut down on. If the hatch sticks, you can pull the cloth up, tie it in a knot and wiggly it left & right which will release the hatch if you've not got the hatch too far out (hope you're following me on this).
The factory became aware of this and during the V8's production, they designed a plastic cover around the latch pegs, which help line up the latch and stops this particular problem. Not sure if they can be retro fitted, but I can find out!
kato
Lotus Esprit World
lotusespritworld said:
The factory became aware of this and during the V8's production, they designed a plastic cover around the latch pegs, which help line up the latch and stops this particular problem. Not sure if they can be retro fitted, but I can find out!
kato
Lotus Esprit World
kato, could you find out. Mine also sticks from time to time, is a pain. Its only a matter of time and I wont be able to open at all. I would certainly like to take the preventative action approach to this. I have never looked at the V8 mechanism, but if its not that costly and very easy to do will get it done.
Cheers
K
I solved my "sticky latch" problem with a little high speed grease, some semi-chrome, and a dremmel tool. I made sure the latch holes were properly set (they seem to get out of place a bit over time), screwed them down, and rubbed a bit of grease on them. Then I took a polish wheel and a dremmel with a little semi-chrome and polished the latch points until they looked like a mirrior. Took about 10 minutes. Luckily, my issue was not the cable, but the latch...
FYI: better than breaking out the tail light, but reqires a lot of patients... when a friends "stuck" it was on the drivers side (that's the left side here hahaha!). I looked at it - decided not to break the light just yet... I pushed up the down spout that runs from the header tank overflow, ran a coat hanger up through the hole, and after some cussing and fretting, I caught hold of the cable and was able to get the thing to release.
Drive topless!!!
Cameron
>> Edited by autocross7 on Tuesday 9th March 00:59
>> Edited by autocross7 on Tuesday 9th March 04:48
FYI: better than breaking out the tail light, but reqires a lot of patients... when a friends "stuck" it was on the drivers side (that's the left side here hahaha!). I looked at it - decided not to break the light just yet... I pushed up the down spout that runs from the header tank overflow, ran a coat hanger up through the hole, and after some cussing and fretting, I caught hold of the cable and was able to get the thing to release.
Drive topless!!!
Cameron
>> Edited by autocross7 on Tuesday 9th March 00:59
>> Edited by autocross7 on Tuesday 9th March 04:48
Okay. The truth here... how many of you are riding 'round listening the the BeeGees? How many of you rented (or perhaps even own) Grease AND watched it since this posting?... 
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