Any details on the updates, possibly what they are for, and when they were released? Thanks!
Dash/Chassis Creaking Sounds (Fixed by Galpin dealer tech)
- Thread starter Kaz
- Start date
SO quick update. David from Galpin called me this morning for me to explicitly tell him the noises I'm hearing. David is the man. How often to techs call you directly to troubleshoot customer complaints....
- On the software updates, there were two for my car, one for the CEM and one for the DIM. Everything else was already up to date. He also said he has the taillight harness bulletin for my car and will do that once the harness comes in (similar to what KAZ mentioned as well). So he will update everything and he said he would give me a print out of what those updates do for the car.
- On the ticking/creaking sounds, he knows exactly what to do, which is exactly what KAZ showed above in his post...replacing the square flanges with the tooth/spiderweb versions. He says this solves my problem as he's performed this on several Emiras already.
- For the power steering groan, he will try to replicate it and see if there's a pinch in a line somewhere vs it being a pump issue. But he will investigate it and replace the pump if necessary.
More to come.
- On the software updates, there were two for my car, one for the CEM and one for the DIM. Everything else was already up to date. He also said he has the taillight harness bulletin for my car and will do that once the harness comes in (similar to what KAZ mentioned as well). So he will update everything and he said he would give me a print out of what those updates do for the car.
- On the ticking/creaking sounds, he knows exactly what to do, which is exactly what KAZ showed above in his post...replacing the square flanges with the tooth/spiderweb versions. He says this solves my problem as he's performed this on several Emiras already.
- For the power steering groan, he will try to replicate it and see if there's a pinch in a line somewhere vs it being a pump issue. But he will investigate it and replace the pump if necessary.
More to come.
Vanessa is my service advisor.
Curious for the outcome. I have a pretty similar creaking next to the underdtray/steering creaking.
Update from David at Lotus. So I just got off the phone with him about the list of things I mentioned above.
- Master volume not sticking at 100% - This has now been fixed due to the CEM update. He tried it several times and it stayed at 100%. Only time will tell, but he believes it has been fixed with the CEM update.
- He also did the DIM update. Car runs great.
- He's still waiting on the taillight harness to come in to perform that bulletin.
- The creaking noise and power steering groan - He's inspected the car up and down but the small ticking noise in the steering wheel was still there even after he replaced those flanges. He has been replicating the groaning noise at full lock like me, and the noise is definitely coming from the pump, but the pump looks good. In discussions with Lotus, they are requesting he replace the steering rack as they believe the current one is overloading the power steering pump and system at full lock, causing the groan. The rack should arrive in a couple days and he will replace. He's hoping this solves the creaking/ticking/groaning noises. Only time will tell.
Now we just need a DCT update
Got a reply back for the dealer, looks like they need to remove the dash to find this creak but as the car wasn’t bought out of them they are wanting to charge for the work. Is this a case for contacting Lotus Customer Care to see what they say as the car is just over a year old May past though I only bought it from Lotus Ashford in Feb this year so about six and a bit months ago, or is it Lotus Ashford I need to speak to?
Any dealer should and can do warranty work. Yes they sometimes have to contact Lotus HQ to get the go ahead, but they should not be even suggesting charging for this work..
Which dealer is saying they will charge?
Which dealer is saying they will charge?
I bought the car from Ashford Lotus second hand as it was a Lotus HQ car they purchased among others, I’m sure other dealers do the same. I’m going to ring Ashford tomorrow and hopefully they will ring the dealer but if I can’t get them to give the go ahead I will be ringing Lotus Customer Care and see what they say. The thing is the dealer acknowledge the creaking is constantly present and quite loud so there’s no argument on that front.
I suppose they are concerned that they could be spending hours and still not solve the problem which is my position too as I don’t want to give the go ahead to do the work and possibly pay a sizeable bill and still not cure it.
It’s the first time I have ever hit this issue that a dealer is not willing to do the work and not bill the manufacturer. I honestly thought if a car is under warranty which the Emira has a three year warranty it would be covered no questions asked.
Seems very strange to me, they need to sort FOC. Unfortunately Lotus Customer Care is shockingly bad.
That’s concerning, I was hoping the opposite would be true. They are probably my last hope of getting this sorted without it costing me.
I am assuming that the garage that has it currently is a Lotus Dealership.
If that is the case, then it should be them doing all the leg work, chasing Lotus HQ to get the OK, etc.
If they are not doing this, then I would seriously consider taking the car to another Lotus Dealership, that is more proactive and customer focused.
I see you are in NI, so your options may be limited, but I'd certainly give the garage that currently has is a kick up the rear.
If that is the case, then it should be them doing all the leg work, chasing Lotus HQ to get the OK, etc.
If they are not doing this, then I would seriously consider taking the car to another Lotus Dealership, that is more proactive and customer focused.
I see you are in NI, so your options may be limited, but I'd certainly give the garage that currently has is a kick up the rear.
***Update***
David just texted me. Good news. He replaced the steering rack and the ticking/creaking is completely gone, especially with the flange replacements he did earlier. The not so good news, but it technically is, David suggested to Lotus to replace the power steering pump as well just to be safe so no more issues arise down the road, in the event the pump got weakened by the original rack putting more pressure on it. So it's all being replaced and it makes me happier.
It's been 1.5 weeks already so what's another few days. At least Galpin gave me a 2026 Ranger Rover Sport to drive for the past couple weeks...
- Thread starter
- #75
They replaced my steering pump and assembly as well - the pump was also not grounded properly and that was an early big problem that David fixed. Such an amazing service center with great people -
David is absolutely legit, an exotic enthusiast, and just cares about doing it right. Doesn't get paid more or any less going through all the paces, but he does because he cares and that's all I care about too.
Have you had any issues or noises since everything was replaced? Any noises come back after a few hundred or thousand miles?
- Thread starter
- #77
I've had three groups of noises: front chassis creaking, dash creaking, and steering column creaking. The first two are solved and haven't come back, and the third is what we previously referenced with the new fittings that he will install when the rear harness (resistor) comes in for the new service bulletin. It's been over 2k miles maybe 3 since he solved the first two groups of noises and they haven't come back.
- Thread starter
- #79
no if you search (I forgot where) I posted what he did, he basically sprayed an industrial lubricant between metal surfaces - the rack replacement was the first Lotus instruction but it didn't solve the chassis noises. Lotus then sent him instructions for the lubricant. At first it only worked for a few days, then he did a more thorough cleaning and lubricant and it permanently (as of now) solved the noises. The only remaining is a light creaking when turning the wheel under load, and the new fittings should solve that.
The car finally went into the garage to get looked at Monday afternoon and yesterday around midday I got a call to say the reckon they found the issue and a short test drive looked promising but after a lengthy test the noise has returned so it’s going to be with them a bit longer it seems. 
It’s not till you are without something that you realise you miss it, reckon a good long drive will be in order when it finally returns.
It’s not till you are without something that you realise you miss it, reckon a good long drive will be in order when it finally returns.
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