Oops Help Please........

[supertans]

Please bear with me on this one - I do not own an Elise but I am looking after one while my son is abroad on business, so far so good.
Problem is as its been stood for three weeks we went out to start it yesterday and you know what no charge - so I start to look for the battery which I eventually find under the washer bottle in front hood opening, only problem is before I found it I lifted what turned out to be the fuse box cover, which promptly flicked off and fell down the front end off the clamshell underneath what appears to be the radiator and twin fans - you know the part you cannot get your arm down into !!!

Anybody have ANY idea's how I can retrieve the cover cos having found the battery which is now on an accumate charger I will ahve to start the car and take it for a run as its gonna be stood there for at leats another two weeks.

Not sure whether the cover may get sucked up by the fans then damage them as well or worse !!

By the way its a mk 1 elise

[boobles]

Is there anyway of locating it by removing the undertray/diffuser?

Edited by boobles on Monday 16th March 21:01

[Scuffers]

sounds more like it's behind the wheel arch liner(what the fuse box is attached to).

it will now be sitting on the inside of the front clam below the headlight probably, if you gently pull it back (with the wheel on full lock) you can get your hand in to fish about for it.

[supertans]

Scuffers said:

sounds more like it's behind the wheel arch liner(what the fuse box is attached to).

it will now be sitting on the inside of the front clam below the headlight probably, if you gently pull it back (with the wheel on full lock) you can get your hand in to fish about for it.

Do you mean the liner to the wheelarch can actually be "pushed" out of the way ?

[supertans]

boobles said:

Is there anyway of locating it by removing the undertray/diffuser?

Edited by boobles on Monday 16th March 21:01

Probably if as a non owner without mechanical knowledge I could !!

[TIPPER]

You need to turn the front wheels to full lock and then look at the forward end of the front nearside wheelarch. You'll see some screws which if you undo will enable you to persuade the wheel arch out of the way. If you can't find the lid like that then jack the car up (check exactly where you can put the jack in the handbook otherwise you could seriously damage the car!!), properly support the car and pop your head under the front of the car. You'll see that the whole of the underside of the car is flat but its divided into sections. You need to undo the bolts that hold the front undertray in place. You'll then have a bit more room to grope around in. You might be surprised what you find (I was!!).
Try Scuffer's method first though as its much easier if you can get to the part via the wheelarch liner.

[supertans]

TIPPER said:

You need to turn the front wheels to full lock and then look at the forward end of the front nearside wheelarch. You'll see some screws which if you undo will enable you to persuade the wheel arch out of the way. If you can't find the lid like that then jack the car up (check exactly where you can put the jack in the handbook otherwise you could seriously damage the car!!), properly support the car and pop your head under the front of the car. You'll see that the whole of the underside of the car is flat but its divided into sections. You need to undo the bolts that hold the front undertray in place. You'll then have a bit more room to grope around in. You might be surprised what you find (I was!!).
Try Scuffer's method first though as its much easier if you can get to the part via the wheelarch liner.

Thanks for all the help you guys - will have a go at it once its fully charged in the next day or so & will report back then with hopefully something positive - thanks all again.

[boobles]

supertans said:

boobles said:

Is there anyway of locating it by removing the undertray/diffuser?

Edited by boobles on Monday 16th March 21:01

Probably if as a non owner without mechanical knowledge I could !!

Its a few bolts underneath the car which holds the diffusser on. It really is that simple.

[supertans]

Just wanted to say a BIG Thank You for the advice given. It worked, I managed in the end to loosen off the screws at bottom of wheelarch and then gently prize the arch cover away from the inner bodywork & get my hand in to retrieve the fuse box cover.

CHEERS.