I am generally pretty impressed with the fit and finish quality of my Emira. Quite a step up from my Elise, but it's still a Lotus 
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I noticed that when I would even gently press on the rear finishing panel that attaches to the third brake light when the rear hatch is open it would give a very cheap sounding plastic-on-plastic squeak.
This panel is simply held in place with eight clips. 4 Christmas tree style at the trunk side and 4 metal spring clips (covered by pieces of felt) on the side facing the rear of the car. On my car, they had also used a little double sided foam tape to stick the panel to the adjacent side finishing panels. Once you separate the tape, the panel pops out by pulling up and/or prying up with a trim tool.
The metal clips may stay with the brake light panel instead of the finishing panel. In which case it's easy to remove the brake light with 4 screws to retrieve the clips.
What I found is that there's a fin in the middle of the finishing panel that sits in a slot on the brake light assembly. I assume it's for part alignment. The fin rubs on the slot and makes the noise.
I covered the fin with some felt and placed some 1/16" thick adhesive backed foam around the perimeter of the finishing panel and snapped it back in. No more noise at all. You have to use a thin foam or felt to ensure the panel lies flat against the adjacent panels.
I wish I had taken some pictures but I was just concentrating on getting it done.
. I noticed that when I would even gently press on the rear finishing panel that attaches to the third brake light when the rear hatch is open it would give a very cheap sounding plastic-on-plastic squeak.
This panel is simply held in place with eight clips. 4 Christmas tree style at the trunk side and 4 metal spring clips (covered by pieces of felt) on the side facing the rear of the car. On my car, they had also used a little double sided foam tape to stick the panel to the adjacent side finishing panels. Once you separate the tape, the panel pops out by pulling up and/or prying up with a trim tool.
The metal clips may stay with the brake light panel instead of the finishing panel. In which case it's easy to remove the brake light with 4 screws to retrieve the clips.
What I found is that there's a fin in the middle of the finishing panel that sits in a slot on the brake light assembly. I assume it's for part alignment. The fin rubs on the slot and makes the noise.
I covered the fin with some felt and placed some 1/16" thick adhesive backed foam around the perimeter of the finishing panel and snapped it back in. No more noise at all. You have to use a thin foam or felt to ensure the panel lies flat against the adjacent panels.
I wish I had taken some pictures but I was just concentrating on getting it done.
