Hello there...

[Spooky]

Hello everyone. I've recently bought an Elise after waiting a long time to get one! I'm certainly not disappointed with it! I've not yet experienced any major problems, but wondered if anyone can offer any suggestions about stiff windows (both sides). The dealer re-felted the mechanism after a couple of weeks which seemed to help for a short time, and a fellow Elise owner suggested dribbling WD40 along the top edge of the window to allow it to run down into the innards, but they're still stiff and I'm scared of breaking them.

Thanks a lot,
Spooky (V325 DNB)

[oneelevens]

Try spraying silicon spray down the runners - it worked for me!

[Gargamel]

don't use wd40 !

use something like glycerin - just on the inside edge of the rubber seal for the window.

otherwise not a lot you can do - except possibly workout at the gym ....

Enjoy the car .... do some brake tests on a quiet road
and if you haven't had a rear wheel drive sports car before - (I don't want to be patronising) but
it pays to learn a bit.

www.1stlotus.com - I am not affiliated etc

[Spooky]

Thanks Gargamel. Don't worry, I didn't think you were being patronising - our other car is a Ford Ka so there's quite a difference! I'm gonna try booking a track day soon as it's something I've always fancied, though I doubt I'll use my own car!

[Gargamel]

go for it - track days are excellent - if you use
bookatrack they will send an instructor round with you for about £20 for 15 - 20 mins to help you get a feel for the track and build your confidence.

But the car handling days run by 1st lotus are much better (imho) for learning car control and how to get the most out of the elise...

I ran mine on track - need a few quid for tyres but the elise is quite able to take a good thrashing round the track.....

have fun

[phil r]

A cheaper but excellent option is a skid pan course, half a day at Thruxdon is about £60 and worth every penny, it is low tech water, oil and Ford Sierras on bald tyres but it would have saved me and accident if I had done it earlier.

[FastSpider]

quote:wondered if anyone can offer any suggestions about stiff windows (both sides).
Spooky (V325 DNB)

My S1 driver side window was stiff when winding down when
I got the car. After a while the glass came unstuck from
the mechanism.... just before an Autocross... in the pouring
rain... the car and I dried out eventually but it wasn't fun.
("spinning in the rain" was fun though...)

If you take off the door panel there is an adjustment that
can be made. This helps a lot, but you have to be careful
that the glass is still aligned with the side rail of the roof.

My mechanic reglued the window and adjusted it to be better.

I think the manufacturing tolerances are bad, many Elises have
problems with their windows. I hope the S2 is better.

[Andy P]

Halfords (although I hate to recommend them)sell a rubber and plastic lubricant aerosol. Use this as necessary.

The runners need lubricating and if you dont the glass and channel will separate.

[ahagerty]

...why shouldnt you use WD40? Does it damage the car?
Cheers
Andy

[Bonce]

WD40 doesn't do anything to improve the health of the rubber runners the window slides up and down. Nylon and Rubber lubricant does.