Creaking / Cracking chassis noise in hot weather

[SimonDM]

Hi all! I hope someone can point me and my service centre in a direction we haven’t thought of. So my car is 2023 V6 model sport suspension. Under warm / hot weather I’ve figured out somewhere above 20 degrees under acceleration I get a creak / cracking noise from what I feel is the chassis but could also be the suspension!

The hotter the day. The worse it gets to the point even turning the steering wheel can cause the problem or a bumpy road can create horrific creaking noises that becomes extremely loud.

Nottingham have had the car over a month now and have confirmed the issue exists but they can’t pin point what’s causing it. They have said they feel the only option is to completely strip the car down but they feel lotus won’t cover this warranty due to the labour time. Which I’m going to fight for a start

 

[tankski]

Firstly welcome to the forum!

I also have an issue that's like this on my V6 Emira. It was registered in April 2023, so I'd assume it's built around December '22/Jan '23.

Like your car, the creaking only happens in hotter weather and the car has to have run for a while/be up to temp. My creaks sound like they're coming from the front somewhere. More recently though it has also happened when myself or a passenger has gotten out the car, with the creak coming from near the door being used. I've attached a video of what mine sounds like from inside.

Lotus Silverstone is my local service station and this is what I've gone through so far (in order of application) with them:

1. I've had the rubber isolators fitted to my front suspension springs
2. The undertray has been re-seated
3. The front anti-roll bar bushes have been removed, greased and put back into place

My going theory is that it's not suspension: When I can get the creaking noise and I stop the car and then use my body weight on the front suspension there is no noise. If there was noise I'd suspect the rubber isolators would fix the issue but here we are!

As a matter of fact, so long that you reported this issue within your standard warranty period then Lotus will have to take a look at it. Their own warranty says that it covers "every component of your Lotus Emira" (taken from this snapshot of the warranty page in July 2024). Of course we have to actually get through CS for this, which many on this forum can testify is like getting blood from a rock.

You're not alone with this particular issue. I'm still working with 'Silverstone on getting the problem fixed. I'll keep this thread updated as I go. Best of luck with fighting your corner.

 

[NE12SD8]

Hi all! I hope someone can point me and my service centre in a direction we haven’t thought of. So my car is 2023 V6 model sport suspension. Under warm / hot weather I’ve figured out somewhere above 20 degrees under acceleration I get a creak / cracking noise from what I feel is the chassis but could also be the suspension!

The hotter the day. The worse it gets to the point even turning the steering wheel can cause the problem or a bumpy road can create horrific creaking noises that becomes extremely loud.

Nottingham have had the car over a month now and have confirmed the issue exists but they can’t pin point what’s causing it. They have said they feel the only option is to completely strip the car down but they feel lotus won’t cover this warranty due to the labour time. Which I’m going to fight for a start

Yours sounds like its making crackling sounds when stationary. I have the I4 sport suspension and only hear the crackling sounds while driving over bumps or uneven surfaces. Its coming from under or behind the dashboard the dealership said. I wasnt prepared for them to disassemble the entire dash to figure it out because they were 2.5 hrs away without traffic.

 

[SimonDM]

Firstly welcome to the forum!

I also have an issue that's like this on my V6 Emira. It was registered in April 2023, so I'd assume it's built around December '22/Jan '23.

Like your car, the creaking only happens in hotter weather and the car has to have run for a while/be up to temp. My creaks sound like they're coming from the front somewhere. More recently though it has also happened when myself or a passenger has gotten out the car, with the creak coming from near the door being used. I've attached a video of what mine sounds like from inside.

Lotus Silverstone is my local service station and this is what I've gone through so far (in order of application) with them:

1. I've had the rubber isolators fitted to my front suspension springs
2. The undertray has been re-seated
3. The front anti-roll bar bushes have been removed, greased and put back into place

My going theory is that it's not suspension: When I can get the creaking noise and I stop the car and then use my body weight on the front suspension there is no noise. If there was noise I'd suspect the rubber isolators would fix the issue but here we are!

As a matter of fact, so long that you reported this issue within your standard warranty period then Lotus will have to take a look at it. Their own warranty says that it covers "every component of your Lotus Emira" (taken from this snapshot of the warranty page in July 2024). Of course we have to actually get through CS for this, which many on this forum can testify is like getting blood from a rock.

You're not alone with this particular issue. I'm still working with 'Silverstone on getting the problem fixed. I'll keep this thread updated as I go. Best of luck with fighting your corner.

Firstly welcome to the forum!

I also have an issue that's like this on my V6 Emira. It was registered in April 2023, so I'd assume it's built around December '22/Jan '23.

Like your car, the creaking only happens in hotter weather and the car has to have run for a while/be up to temp. My creaks sound like they're coming from the front somewhere. More recently though it has also happened when myself or a passenger has gotten out the car, with the creak coming from near the door being used. I've attached a video of what mine sounds like from inside.

Lotus Silverstone is my local service station and this is what I've gone through so far (in order of application) with them:

1. I've had the rubber isolators fitted to my front suspension springs
2. The undertray has been re-seated
3. The front anti-roll bar bushes have been removed, greased and put back into place

My going theory is that it's not suspension: When I can get the creaking noise and I stop the car and then use my body weight on the front suspension there is no noise. If there was noise I'd suspect the rubber isolators would fix the issue but here we are!

As a matter of fact, so long that you reported this issue within your standard warranty period then Lotus will have to take a look at it. Their own warranty says that it covers "every component of your Lotus Emira" (taken from this snapshot of the warranty page in July 2024). Of course we have to actually get through CS for this, which many on this forum can testify is like getting blood from a rock.

You're not alone with this particular issue. I'm still working with 'Silverstone on getting the problem fixed. I'll keep this thread updated as I go. Best of luck with fighting your corner.

That’s it!!! That’s the exact same noise as mine!

It’s driving me insane. It’s happening a tiny amount now in the cold as well.

I really hope they can get to the bottom of this.

 

[tankski]

That’s it!!! That’s the exact same noise as mine!

It’s driving me insane. It’s happening a tiny amount now in the cold as well.

I really hope they can get to the bottom of this.

Positive-ish news from my end is that the bushing work has helped with the creaking noise, but it definitely isn't fixed for sure. I've started an email chain with Lotus CS and their warranty department so they're in the know of the issue too. It'll be tough to get it fixed properly as it's cooling down now. Typical!

 

[SimonDM]

Positive-ish news from my end is that the bushing work has helped with the creaking noise, but it definitely isn't fixed for sure. I've started an email chain with Lotus CS and their warranty department so they're in the know of the issue too. It'll be tough to get it fixed properly as it's cooling down now. Typical!

So was this the D bushes for the front Anti-Roll bar you’re referring too? I was myself going to get the car jacked up and do these as I’m an ex mechanic and this was a simple first thing I thought I’d try. If so I will try to get them done soon ish and report back on any news.

As you said it’s going to be hard now to find the issue due to the cold weather coming in!

Be keeping in touch with you to see if we can get to the bottom of this!

 

[tankski]

So was this the D bushes for the front Anti-Roll bar you’re referring too?

I don’t know, the work has been done under warranty so far so it’s been squirrelled away into a workshop. I’m not as mechanically inclined so I’ve not pressed much for the exact details.