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Lotus Service Notes Section BV
BV.1 - RESERVOIR ACCESS HATCH
The Lotus Evora is fitted with a front hinged,
composite, access hatch in the front body to
provide ready access to the brake/clutch mas-
ter cylinder reservoir and windscreen washer
reservoir filler neck. Incoming air to the interior
climate pollen filter is also routed through this
area from the high pressure zone at the base of
the windscreen.
To open the hatch, from the inboard side of
either footwell, press down the release lever; the
hatch may then be raised fully by hand.
Before closing, check that the reservoir caps
are secure, lower the lid, and press firmly over
the latch.
Access panel adjustment
The hinge stator is secured by two M6 nuts to a captive studplate on the clamshell, with sufficient hole
tolerance to allow some adjustment of panel height. Similarly, the hinge rotor is secured by 2 M6 nuts to a
studplate in the cover, with allowance made for adjustment of shutlines.
BV.2 - TAILGATE
The composite tailgate panel is hinged at its leading edge to the rear bulkhead, and uses a single latch
mounted centrally at its rear end. The latch is released by an electric solenoid activated by the transmitter key
fob, but note that unlatching is inhibited with the ignition switched on. An emergency release is provided in the
form of a mechanical cable from a handle concealed beneath the rear seat cushion (or carpet). Opening of the
tailgate is assisted by a pair of gas pressurised struts. The tailgate incorporates a heated window glass, and,
to the rear of the glass, an outlet grille for hot air from around the rearmost catalytic converter.
The extruded alloy hinge arms are bolted to the tailgate with two M8 screws and reach beneath the venti-
lation panel to the cabin rear bulkhead, to which the hinge stators are secured with two M8 screws. The steel
hinge pin is an interference fit into the stator, and supports two top hat synthetic bushes pressed into the bore
of the hinge rotor, with an 'E' clip used for retention. Oversize hinge fixing holes allow for the adjustment of
tailgate panel shutlines.
Pivot ball pins for the twin gas struts are screwed into captive nuts in the tailgate inner panel, with the lower
end of each strut anchored to a steel bracket secured to the clamshell aperture. A spring steel clip secures
each strut pivot socket onto its ball pin.
The latch mechanism is secured to the tailgate, and the striker hoop to the clamshell, with a security
system sensing switch incorporated into the latch. The latch release solenoid is mounted to the right of the
striker, and uses a short link to pull a bellcrank lever pivoted on the striker, and interacting with a release lever
on the latch mechanism. The manual release cable activates the same bellcrank lever, and is routed over the
RH wheelarch and through the cabin bulkhead. An adjustable height downstop buffer is provided at each rear
corner of the tailgate for panel height alignment and stability.
The rear aerofoil is secured to the tailgate with 2 x M6 button head screws at each side, and houses the
CHMSL, which comprises 12 red LEDs behind a white diffuser. The CHMSL wiring combined with the latch
sensing switch and HRS wiring, form a tailgate harness which exits the tailgate inner skin near the RH hinge,
to which it is clipped before penetrating the cabin bulkhead.
The heated, toughened glass screen with pre-applied obscuration band, is bonded to the tailgate with an
elastomeric adhesive (see sub-section BV.14).
Tailgate remove/refit
To remove the tailgate:
1. Disconnect the tailgate harness at the RH hinge area.
2. Release the spring clip securing each gas strut to the tailgate and disengage the struts.
To open
HATCH RELEASE LEVER ohe20
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