Solved: How to fix the blown subwoofer sound with windows open

[hellograeme74]

This was the foam I used. 1 inch thick. Think foam for a seat cushion or padding for a tool box / camera box and the like.

Amazon.co.uk

 

[meenboli]

Getting the bloody thing to click back in to place is a bit of a bugger - my hands are in shreds - been at it half an hour and succeeded in pulling off one of the plastic 'struts'.

I'm big with big hands - which really isn't helpful!

I've given up for the time being - I even climbed in the back but got stuck!

 

[NicolasB]

A pair of pliers holding the plastic frame would work, and then pull it into place.

 

[meenboli]

A pair of pliers holding the plastic frame would work, and then pull it into place.

Toyed with that idea - but was scared of further damage.

Not sure my large hands could fit in there with a pair of pliers.

Thought about using a few pieces of string to pull in several places at once (spreading the load) - well, that's my plan at least

 

[ShadieAdie]

The circular vent to the right is for the Sub, it's a Free-Air Subwoofer

Just a thought.... but if the 'Foam mod' used to fill the flap vent was not able to pass air quickly enough when the door is slammed, it may put stress/pressure on the actual sub diaphragm, being a free-Air design ? That cabin pressure increase has to try and escape somewhere

 

[hellograeme74]

The circular vent to the right is for the Sub, it's a Free-Air Subwoofer

View attachment 83699

Just a thought.... but if the 'Foam mod' used to fill the flap vent was not able to pass air quickly enough when the door is slammed, it may put stress/pressure on the actual sub diaphragm, being a free-Air design ? That cabin pressure increase has to try and escape somewhere

That's a fair point. So far so good i'd say. I guess the solve there is make sure the foam is not too dense / poke some holes in it.

 

[NicolasB]

That's a fair point. So far so good i'd say. I guess the solve there is make sure the foam is not too dense / poke some holes in it.

I mentioned this in another post that the foam has to be breathable.

 

[nixx]

Thanks for the write-up.. a mod that I will have to tackle soon!

 

[ozgrid]

First of all, thank you to the person who figured this out, was driving me nuts listening to that blown sub sound, like it was clipping.

I do want to comment however that going through in the interior would not be my recommendation, it's MUCH easier to just go in through the fender liner. Getting it out is easy and will give you a false sense of hope of being done in 10min. Getting it back in is a nightmare. There's a 75% chance you distort/break the cheap plastic trying to get back in, no matter what I did, any of the various hooks/tools I attempted (I have a lot) I just couldn't get it to clip back in securely on the far side.

After an hr I said screw it, put it in the air, removed the wheel and partial fender liner in 10min and had perfect access. If I did it again, I'd just go straight through the exterior for a few reasons.

1. The fender liner clips Lotus use are actually quite good. Usually these things break and have to be replaced, these ones came out and went back in no problem.
2. You don't have to remove the full fender liner, just enough to bend it back
3. You don't even need to remove the housing this way, preventing any chance of breaking the seal/damaging the clips. You still can, but you have such easy access you could technically replace the flaps with foam with it in place if you chose to.
4. If you do remove it, putting it back in is 10,000x easier. Also if you happen to break a clip or it won't re-seal, you have access to the backside, you could glue/hot glue/gorilla tape the edges if necessary.
5. You don't have to cortortion into a tiny space in the interior

 

[hellograeme74]

First of all, thank you to the person who figured this out, was driving me nuts listening to that blown sub sound, like it was clipping.

I do want to comment however that going through in the interior would not be my recommendation, it's MUCH easier to just go in through the fender liner. Getting it out is easy and will give you a false sense of hope of being done in 10min. Getting it back in is a nightmare. There's a 75% chance you distort/break the cheap plastic trying to get back in, no matter what I did, any of the various hooks/tools I attempted (I have a lot) I just couldn't get it to clip back in securely on the far side.

After an hr I said screw it, put it in the air, removed the wheel and partial fender liner in 10min and had perfect access. If I did it again, I'd just go straight through the exterior for a few reasons.

1. The fender liner clips Lotus use are actually quite good. Usually these things break and have to be replaced, these ones came out and went back in no problem.
2. You don't have to remove the full fender liner, just enough to bend it back
3. You don't even need to remove the housing this way, preventing any chance of breaking the seal/damaging the clips. You still can, but you have such easy access you could technically replace the flaps with foam with it in place if you chose to.
4. If you do remove it, putting it back in is 10,000x easier. Also if you happen to break a clip or it won't re-seal, you have access to the backside, you could glue/hot glue/gorilla tape the edges if necessary.
5. You don't have to cortortion into a tiny space in the interior

View attachment 85588View attachment 85589

Great write up. Very grateful to all the contributors on this one.