S2 rear clam cracks

The Oily Bits S2 Specific Topics
1

Some smallish cracks have started to appear on either side of the rear clam, roughly halfway between the wheel arch and rear light. Cars just two years old.
Looks almost as if its been hit from the inside.
Anyone seen anything like this before?
[image]http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a347/pritch23/DSCF1008a.jpg[/image]
[image]http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a347/pritch23/DSCF1009a.jpg[/image]

Photos don’t really show it to well, but I hope you get the idea.
And before anyone say’s it, it’s NOT caused by the hairdrier rattling around in the boot. (thats behind the seats)

2

yes mate i had a similar thing with my 05 plate saffron yellow exige and she was only A MONTH OLD!!! told the dealer who we wont mention but you know who u are!!! took them 3 months to get it painted the right colour!!!

3

Have one on my S1

4

Heard about this happening before, it could be your tool bag moving about??

5

I saw this on an S2 yesterday. Star (or spider) crack. They’re old news on classic Lotus, & usually appear in areas of high stress (not in your case), or impact from the other side. The S2 rear clam is I believe hand laid, so possibly prone to quality variations (unlike on say the door panels). Should be a warranty job Worth a try.

Tim.

6

My car was delivered with similar damage in the gel coat. Behind the wheel arch and in the lower middle of the clam. The dealers aware (cars 12 months old this month) but I’ve not pursued it as I’ve not been back to LRV since the first service and I’m not sure how good the repair will be with Chrome Orange.

Mark

7

pritch23

have you got wheel arch liners fitted…?? could it be caused by stones being thrown up by rear wheels ?

8

have you got wheel arch liners fitted…?? could it be caused by stones being thrown up by rear wheels ?

Wheel arch liners are in, but its not that area. Behind the cracks is the boot, but there’s nothing loose in the boot to cause it.
Chris Neils have had a look at it and taken some photo’s to send to Lotus, we’ll see what they come back with.

9

I had this whithin a few weks and LRV’s attitude was that it was a warrenty issue, however lotus disagreed, dispite the comment from the aera engineer about it being a ‘known issue’ and that one of the original press cars had to have its rear clam replaced after a days track use because it had a phone charger in the boot! They eventually offered to pay half, still havent got it done as i have since aquired a few more ‘marks’ on the rear and the lotus option isnt now as cost effective…
Gav

10

They eventually offered to pay half, still havent got it done as i have since aquired a few more ‘marks’ on the rear and the lotus option isnt now as cost effective…
Gav

Just cover 'em up with some of that insulation tape, you’re so fond of!

11

Heeeeeeey, just had a thought…it could be stress cracks caused by all that downforce generated by the rear spoiler
























or then again, maybe not

Tim.

12

Already have!

13

Already have!

I think you missed some, then

14

If lotus supplied some sort of cargo net in the boot then most itesm would not get flung around the boot.

15

or what i thought was some maybe 1/2" dense foam along the inside of the clam?
Gav

16

I have 2 of these also one on each side of the clam. You would have to be really looking to see them, but annoying all the same. I think they are from things hitting the inside.

17

I can confirm fro those photos that it is things in the boot sliding around. They are at the correct hight I only know because a fellow Exiger left a bottle of water in the boot and it made a big star mark in the paint.

18

I don’t carry anything in the boot that could cause that, tool roll is always fixed in place. The marks on the left side are behind the battery anyway, so anything loose would have to be going some to cause it.

Still waiting for a reply from Lotus via CN, will let you know.

19

Discovered this weekend that tool roll can break free during ‘spirited’ track driving, spraying contents around and being one cause of this problem - be warned!

20

one of these spider cracks have appeared on my rear clam aswell, looks like it was caused by the puncture repair kit slideing out of the two clips! design fault…warranty?