Rubber door grommets?

[jamesbxxx]

Whilst replacing some undertray fixings for stainless, I noticed that I only had one rubber grommet in each door (front hole). Is this normal or should I have two, as per the service notes?

 

[Anothernimbus]

Both should be plugged. Mine were until dealer had to fix driver window (nut had fallen off of regulator and window bounced around in door when the window was open). When I got the car back one of the plugs was missing. I found a 1” plug on ebay to replace it.

 

[crestima]

Whilst replacing some undertray fixings for stainless, I noticed that I only had one rubber grommet in each door (front hole). Is this normal or should I have two, as per the service notes?View attachment 57866

You should have both of those holes in each door plugged with grommets.

 

[jamesbxxx]

Thanks for the advice. Now properly plugged!

 

[scv]

Is there some concern about water retention? (See threads on paint bubbling). Suggestion of plug removal to address?

 

[crestima]

Is there some concern about water retention? (See threads on paint bubbling). Suggestion of plug removal to address?

Coincidentally, the issue of the door water accumulation/drainage inside the door panels was addressed in the thread "Lots of water in the car door" where a member sent a picture of the under section of his Seneca Blue door showing a single drainage cavity near the hinge section. That was when we realized that somewhere along the car's production process, Lotus must have changed the design of the door panel to the one with the two holes and grommet plugs (see my door's picture). However, it was never determined, at least with any degree of certainty, when this design changed, but I suspect that it may have had something to do with preventing water accumulation. The fact that the later design has the two holes plugged with grommets, leads me to believe there may have been other internal sealing changes as well. I, for one, have never experienced any of the reported water accumulation issues with my doors. Nothing very conclusive here, rather more a bit of speculation, but hope this makes some sense and helps.

 

[Aero]

Coincidentally, the issue of the door water accumulation/drainage inside the door panels was addressed in the thread "Lots of water in the car door" where a member sent a picture of the under section of his Seneca Blue door showing a single drainage cavity near the hinge section. That was when we realized that somewhere along the car's production process, Lotus must have changed the design of the door panel to the one with the two holes and grommet plugs (see my door's picture). However, it was never determined, at least with any degree of certainty, when this design changed, but I suspect that it may have had something to do with preventing water accumulation. The fact that the later design has the two holes plugged with grommets, leads me to believe there may have been other internal sealing changes as well. I, for one, have never experienced any of the reported water accumulation issues with my doors. Nothing very conclusive here, rather more a bit of speculation, but hope this makes some sense and helps.


View attachment 57966


View attachment 57967

My blue photo (my VIN 11320 build 12/23). Sometimes those grommets (on other cars too) are also used for tooling access to remove things internally to the door. (regulators etc) Seems like I remember looking at the service manual and those plugged holes seem like they were used for that. They should probably be plugged to keep moisture out of there. The cavity behind those may be different than the fwd drain slots.

 

[crestima]

My blue photo (my VIN 11320 early FE2). Sometimes those grommets (on other cars too) are also used for tooling access to remove things internally to the door. (regulators etc) Seems like I remember looking at the service manual and those plugged holes seem like they were used for that. They should probably be plugged to keep moisture out of there. The cavity behind those may be different than the fwd drain slots.

Yes, makes sense that those two holes were never intended for drainage. Out of curiosity, I removed one of the grommets and found a bolt behind it, so I think you're spot on that those are intended exclusively to access those small bolts. I added a couple of additional pictures, the last of which focuses on the section closest to the hinges. There's no drainage cavity there as found in your Emira. Btw, my build date is Nov. 23.

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