How easy to remove the dash on a GT410 Sport?

[Spinney]

I probably already know the answer to this and suspect it will be something like "Don't even think about it"!

Over the last few months, pretty much since my track day at Hethel back in July, I have noticed a rattle from behind the dash to the right of the instrument cluster that has been getting steadily worse. At first it was only noticeable when travelling over very rough surfaces and wasn't bad enough to annoy me but now it is almost constant and really starting to get on my nerves. With all my previous Lotus cars you could get up under the dash quite easily and feel around until finding the source of any rattles but, of course, this isn't so easy on the Evora.

I am quite handy with tools but no longer possessing the physique of a racing snake nor the patience of a saint, I'm now thinking this might be a task too much for me. Anybody carried this out on a 4** series car and can give me a prognosis on degree of difficulty please?

[Bibs]

This page is described as 'Fascia Structure and Supporting Hardware'! Good luck! 

[Spinney]

Ye gods that doesn’t look like a 5 minute job does it?🤦

Hmmm, as expected I might be knocking on Back on Track’s door sometime soon I think. 

[LotusLeftLotusRight]

Or just live with the rattle. I remember various loose fixings appearing in the footwell of my Evora in the weeks after I took delivery. It’s just adding lightness.

[Spinney]

Well there’s the irony. Because all my previous Lotus were rather more raw or, dare I say, even basic, I was probably more ready to accept the odd rattle. The Evora, however, is supposed to be more refined and I really can’t live with it rattling so badly. 

[2011 Chrome Orange]

A few S1s over here were missing part #22 which is a cap that covers the front mounting pin. The missing cap caused the rattle.

Others have found wedging thin foam in the front of the dash stopped noise issues. If you can pinpoint a location it might be worth a try.

[Spinney]

Yes I’ve tried to pinpoint a location, pushed and pulled everything within my reach as I drive but it’s definitely coming from behind the dash. 

[Moonus]

I don't know if you got this sorted out in the end. I did a sound system swop out 6 months back and took most of the dash panels out to do the mod. I never got as far as removing the complete dash, but then you may not have to, to find what's rattling. My car is a 410 so slightly difference from your car, but from the above pic it looks as if Lotus have used the same fixing method for the panels. Its' worth getting set an interior removal tools, as they will make this job sooooo much easier and help protect the surface of the panels. Once you have most the panels off, you may find where the sound is coming from. I found it so much easier to work on the car with the seats out, good luck. 

[Spinney]

No I’ve not had the chance to delve into this yet. I haven’t used the car for a bit and probably won’t for a good while  longer now so at the moment it’s out of sight and out of mind. I’ll most likely leave it until next spring now, I think. 

[Spinney]

Well hallelujah, it turns out there is a god and, what’s more, he’s been smiling down on me. The problem rattle proved to be panel No 2 on the above diagram, the one surrounding the starter button, and which hadn’t been properly seated, presumably by the factory. A bit of jiggery pokery with pushing and pulling and it suddenly clicked into its rightful location, et voila, no more rattles!

I couldn’t be happier, especially since I don’t now need to pull out the entire dash! I really wasn’t looking forward to that.👌😃