carpets

CARPET FITTING

By Simon Allan:

I did ask Paul Matty's about replacing footwell carpets. This required a sample to go to Lotus and would cost a round £45.

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By dai harris:

I found a full carpet set with sjsportscars for £155 approx (incVAT ???) does this include footwell panels ? or mats??

I've had a look at taking it all out recently and it is straight forward except .........

how do you get the seats out ??? do they unbolt from under the car or is there a special LOTUS 10mm spanner that fits insde the runners to unbolt it?

can anyone tell me

(I should buy the manual really)

dai harris

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By Grant:

Just thought I would let you know that the seats come out by undoing the bolts under the car. Not sure about the seat belt. Does anyone know if there is a bolt that holds the bit you clip your belt into?

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By Mark Spavin:

Removing the seats will require you to hold the top of the bolt into the runner, where it will not turn. Slide the seat to the opposite end, I then used a 11mm open ended spanner that just fits into the runner, to hold the bolt in place, the shaft stops the bolt from rising while you take the nut off. Get the right size spanner and you won't even need to hold the top.

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By Mark Spavin:

Hi Dai

Here is an update on removing the seats, my passenger side seat came out without problem just by holding the top of the bolt into the runner. The drivers side was another matter. I think I found the correct way after some messing about. You should remove the seat from the runners before removing the runners. You will find 4xM6 allen bolts on the underside of the seat subframe (in the top runners at the front and rear of the seat subframe). Remove these first the runner may then be removed with a 1/2" open ended spanner to hold the bolt. Easy when you know how!

Mark

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By Grant:

This weekend I started to fit new carpets. Here a blow by blow account of what you need to do. I have only completed the passenger side so far. I started at 10:00 took 30mins for lunch and finished at 15:00 and luckily it didn't rain. (Not enough space for this operation in garage + the glue fumes would have been too much.

1. Take out seat by unbolting the four bolts under the car. Will try Mark suggestion for the drivers side. They come out quite easily.

2. Rip out old carpet but do not pull so hard that you pull out sound proofing as well. Some of the carpet is tucked in under the centre console trim. This has to be removed.

3. Remove map holder and other insert piece behind it. Map holder has 4 screws, other piece is stuck down with double sided tape and comes out quite easily. Undo screw that is revealed by taking out the map holder and remove the gear knob. This piece can then be slid forward and removed. The front piece either side of the gear knob is only held down with Velcro. Remove the rear passenger seats by undoing the two screws that are located where the backs of your legs would be if you were sitting in them. Then unscrew the two screws that old the backs of the seats in, located at the very bottom of the seats (you need to do both sides by the way). You can now remove the centre tunnel cover by pulling it towards with front of the car. Watch out for the bar that goes under the Hand Break. Now remove the two screws either side of the console located at about the end of where the Hand Break is. These will allow you to lift this area enough to slip the carpet in. Now undo the two screws hidden by the carpet behind the door posts (near the buttons that turn the interior lights on and off). Lastly remove the seat belt bolts from both sides. Its very easy there are no lose nuts.

You have now removed enough of the trim to get the old carpet out and the new ones in. If you wanted to do the job correctly you need to remove the entire dash (no thanks). As the dash is now loose you can push and pull the carpet enough to get it in. I stated by cleaning all the surfaces of the old bits of carpet that were still stuck to the car and then practised laying the carpet without glue so I knew where it all went. I decided that the first piece that should go in is the long piece that runs under the centre console. It's the hardest to do and because the dash was still in place I decided to fit the carpet under the dash and apply the glue whilst the carpet was in situ. This may be unconventional but it worked really well. I then fitted the back piece, the door side piece, the pieces that goes under the runners and then the piece in the foot well. The top mats had Velcro so didn't need sticking down. One last point, there are two plastic covers that protect the electric's in both foot wells. I removed these a few days before. They're a little tricky and need to dry over night with some rubber bands to keep the carpet in place.

I will let you know if I encounter any other issues when I attempt the driver's side next weekend (assuming its not raining).

...

All carpets now in. Its not a difficult job, but does require patience. Getting the seats back in was a little tricky. I also has some new mats specially made with EXCEL embroidered into them. Might sound a little OTT by they look really good. When I get a digital camera I will post the pictures on the site

Grant