Interior Exterior
Q:
Anyone removed the speakers from an S2 Exige with OEM Harness bar fitted.... how did you do it?
With the OEM Harness Bar fitted Lotus use a special speaker pod to fit the speakers in behind the harness bar.The speaker grills are flush with the rear side of the harness bar and I can't remove them and get to the speaker securing screws as per the S1.
The motorsport speaker pods are riveted to the rear panel with what appear to be plastic rivets. Do these pull out or do you drill them out..... I see from the Lotus Parts manual they are a "genuine expensive" Lotus Parts and are referred to as plastic rivets.
As a matter of interest with these pods removed is that how you get access to the bolts securing the harness bar to the roll over bar..... a job for mighty small hands.
Cheers
A:
+1
I would also like some insight into this issue.
xtn
A:
Xtn
I dropped into B & C a Lotus Dealer here in the UK and they didn't have any idea.......
They were able to show me one of the plastic rivets and that's excatly what they are.... pretty certain that a standard rivet puller would do the trick when putting in new ones and possibly a drill to remove them.
B and C suggested I spoke to Lotus Technical which I have now done a few moments ago. Guess what.... they not sure either but will look into it for me. Promised an answer tomorrow sometime. He did say " We will know as we put it together for you"..... spot on buddy
C
A:
As promised Chris Brown at Lotus Technical phoned me back this morning
According to the man on the production line, and I guess it doesn't get any better than that, this is the answer.
The MotorSport Speaker Pod needs to be removed first by releasing the plastic rivets and then jiggling the speaker pod and speaker out as one unit. The plastic rivets can be released by using a small rod, same in diameter as to the center hole of the rivet, and tapping the rivet pull rod further into the rivet, which in turn will release the rivet and allow the rivet to be pulled out... "If that all makes sense." Chris reassured me that the removal of the Pod and Speaker would require loads of jiggling.... for Lotus to admit that then I am preparing myself for an afternoon of swearing and sweating!!!
After the removal of the Pod and Speaker you will then have access to the bolt securing the harness bar to the roll over bar. Once again Lotus refered to this as fiddly....... hmmmmmm. With both bolts removed the bar can be moved to one side which will release the other end from the plastic rear paneling and can then be removed from the car. The bolts attach the harness bar to the rear facing side of the roll over bar.
The rear panel can then be removed....................
... hope to get a crack at this over the w/e will post some photos for future reference.
A:
The plastic rivets can be released by using a small rod, same in diameter as to the center hole of the rivet, and tapping the rivet pull rod further into the rivet, which in turn will release the rivet and allow the rivet to be pulled out... "If that all makes sense."
No I'm afraid it does NOT make sense. I admit I am below par on the intelligence chart.
1. I do not know the diameter of the center hole of the rivit.
2. Tapping the rivet?
3. Pull the rod further into the rivet?
Can't wait for your pictures. Hope they are detailed!
xtn
A:
From the description, I suspect it's a plastic rivet like late model Yamaha bodywork (and somewhat like Honda as well). Push the center in to free the rivet, pull the rivet. To reinstall, push the center back out the costmetic/surface side, place rivet, push the center flush.
I'm just guessing since I haven't even ordered those parts yet. I could probably have a look at yours and tell pretty quickly.
A:
sounds like the plastic rivets they use on motorcycles
A:
Ah... Now I get it. I keep saying I wanted the Lotus because it was the closes thing to having a motorcycle in a production car. Now I have proof.
xtn
A:
I took mine out last week and managed to get the grills off without removing the plastic rivets. I had to flex the rear panel back a little to make enough clearance, but it wasn't that bad. Then you can just undo the 4 screws that hold the speaker on and wiggle the speaker out.
Maybe I just got the lucky large tolerance car
-Steve
A:
How much "flexing room" was there? The speakers I would like to put in are deeper than the stock Blowchunks.
xtn