Lotus Elise / Lotus Exige. Instruction - part 12

Lotus Service Notes Section BR

Page 3

Roll out the left hand side of the roof, and
engage the fixed spigot pin on the front and
rear end of the rail, into the uppermost slot
in the latch blocks at the front and rear of
the roof aperture.

Ensure that the tensioning cables at the front
and rear edges of the roof canopy are cor-
rectly located in the channels between the
seal and body before rotating the left hand
side rail downwards.
Ensure that both spring loaded pins ‘click’
into their ramped slots indicating that latch-
ing is complete. If necessary, ease the latch
handles on the inside face of the side rails
inwards to facilitate latching. Pull up on the
side rail to check security.

On the right hand side of the car, repeat steps (4) and (5) for the second side rail, noting that greater
rotating force will be required as tension is applied to the canopy.
Note: Engaging the left hand roof side rail first, will minimise the possibility of the canopy tensioning
cable adjusters causing damage to the roof seals.

Soft Top - Removal

WARNING: The soft top roof should be removed only whilst the vehicle is safely parked.

Open both doors or lower both door win-
dows.

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.

Repeat step (2) for the left hand side rail.
Note: Releasing the right hand roof side
rail first, will minimise the possibility of the
canopy tensioning cable adjusters causing
damage to the roof seals.

Carefully roll up each side of the roof canopy towards the centre, lift off the car, and stow in the roof bag.

Unhook the two roof stays and stow in the roof bag.

Important Note: If the roof is not fully dry, it should be stowed for no longer than a few 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.

Roof Cable - Front: The tension of the steel cable running through the front edge of the roof canopy should be
adjusted with the side rails latched. Hook a spring balance under the centre of the cable, and apply an upwards
force of 6 kgf. Adjust the cable tension to achieve a vertical gap of 6mm between the cable and top surface of
the windscreen surround.

Spigot
pin

Spring
loaded
pin

FITTING SIDERAIL

ohs111

RELEASING ROOF SIDE RAIL

ohs112

Lotus Service Notes Section BR

Page 4

Roof Cable - Rear: The roof rear cable tension should be sufficient only to maintain stability of the roof canopy
shape.
Side Rail Front Latch Plates: The latch plates on the windscreen header rail are secured using a two part
adhesive. If necessary, use Betaclean 3900 (A100B6008V), Betaprime 5404 (A082B6337V), and a 50/50 mix
of two part adhesive Betamate 7064S (A116B0159V) and Betamate 7014 (A116B0158V) to refix.

Hard Top Roof
Note
-

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.

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 vehicle tool kit to tighten or release the roof fixing screws.

The hardtop roof fixings are made captive to the roof to prevent their loss.

Hard Top - Fitting
WARNING: The hard top roof should be fitted only whilst the vehicle is safely parked.

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 lo-
cating the front edge against the windscreen
header rail.

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 tool supplied, and do not fully
tighten at this stage.

Repeat step (2) for the opposite front spigot

bracket.

Engage a rear cup 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 cup is fully located onto the
tongue.

Repeat step (4) for the opposite rear cup

bracket.

Push the roof fully forwards before tighten-

ing the front spigot brackets using only the spe-
cial tool supplied. Hold each rear cup bracket in
alignment whilst tightening the single fixing screw
for each bracket. Do not overtighten.

Fit the cover panels to each rear corner of

the roof, noting that the panels are handed for
left and right sides. Press the panels firmly into
position fully to engage the 'Velcro' fixing patches.

FRONT
SPIGOT
BRACKET

b330

FITTING REAR CUP BRACKET

REAR CORNER
COVER PANEL

Lotus Service Notes Section BR

Page 5

Using the special tool provided, install the

windscreen header cover panel by locating first
with the central screw, and then by the outer
screws before tightening in the same order.

Check that the roof is secure by pulling up-

wards on each corner in turn. If any upward move-
ment is evident, check the correct fitment of all
mounting brackets.

Hard Top - Removal

WARNING: The hard top roof should be re-
moved only whilst the vehicle is safely parked.

Open both doors.

Using the special tool supplied, release the

three Torx screws securing the windscreen header
trim panel, and remove the panel.

Using the special tool supplied, slacken the

Torx screw securing each front corner spigot
bracket to the roof, but do not yet remove the
screws.

Pull off the trim cover from each rear cor-

ner of the roof panel and remove the screw se-
curing the hook bracket to the latch plate at each
rear corner.

Remove the two front corner bracket fixing

screws and lift the front edge of the roof slightly
to release the front brackets from their latch plate
slots.

With the aid of an assistant, lift the roof from

the car taking care to restrain the tethered brack-
ets to avoid damaging the paintwork.

If storing the roof vertically, take care to avoid damaging the panel corners by using a protective floor

covering.

WINDSCREEN
HEADER TRIM

WINDSCREEN

b331

HEADER TRIM

FRONT CORNER
SPIGOT BRACKET

b330

REAR CUP BRACKET

Lotus Service Notes Section BR

Page 6

BR.2 - REAR WINDOW SHROUD (Elise only)

The rear window shroud is a body colour composite panel which covers the seat belt mounting frame/roof

hoop, and forms a capping for the rear of the cockpit. The panel is secured by two brackets on its front edge
which are fixed each side by a single M6 screw to the top of the rear bulkhead panel and which are accessible
from within the cabin. On some cars it may be necessary first to remove a trim panel secured by five screws.
Note that Neoprene washers are used between the brackets and the bulhead.

Each rear leg of the shroud is fitted with a captive M6 stud, which locates through a hole in the clamshell

buttress, with the retaining nut accessible either from the engine bay, or wheelarch area. A foam gasket is used
to prevent chafing damage between the shroud and clamshell.

When removing the shroud, it is also necessary to peel off the rear weatherstrip from the front edge of the

panel, and to remove the two cant rail latch plates from their brackets on the roof hoop.

Note that on the Exige, the rear window shroud is an integral part of the rear clamshell moulding.

Roof/'B' post
weatherstip seal

Neoprene
washers

Fixing screw to
rear bulkhead

Fixing nut to
rear clamshell

Rear window shroud

Foam gasket

pl1020mt

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