Help - Elise feels "floaty" at 80 MPH - LotusTalk

ashworboys · 10-13-2009, 01:31 PM

Ladies and Gents,

I need a little help - I recently bought a 2005 Chrome Orange Lotus 19k miles - I now know that one of the underpanels - the one under the engine is gone! My Boxster nor Triumph Spitfires ever had "underpanties" so I never even considered looking and I did not know of this cool site at the time.

Is this seriously effecting the handeling of the car?

Something just doesn't feel right - it handles like it is on rails on the downtown streets of Winston Salem but on I-40 running 80 mph it just feels like it is not solidly planted - I am getting a lot inner tire wear on the rear tires after 6K miles - additionally I hit a puddle of water going about 77 to 80 mph and WOW high adventure - the back end was swishing and sliding all around!

So whats up? Any advice? In hindsight and after looking around the car for an extended period of time I am certain that this Elise was wrecked but I have no idea of the damage.

Thank you in advace for your input.

ADW

zygotesoup · 10-13-2009, 01:37 PM

bald tires (especially A048's), missing underpanels, and evidence that the car was wrecked?

it could be any number of things... or a combination of issues. im not sure what to tell you except good luck!

Lifespan · 10-13-2009, 01:45 PM

Sounds like there could be quite a few things. The first question is what tires you are using and how much tread is left?

The Elise is a very light weight car, so it's very possible for the car to get a little "floaty" on standing water at a high speed. That's pretty normal.

shokwaves · 10-13-2009, 01:50 PM

Alignment can be a big influence on how planted the car feels. Just check tire thread, alignment and replace the bellypan and you should be good to go.

ads_green · 10-13-2009, 01:57 PM

Ride height and rake is also a big factor - the front should be 10mm lower than the rear else the car will go very light at speed.

The undertrays don't add much even at that speed.

ZTEC · 10-13-2009, 02:20 PM

A proper alignment will make all the difference in the world!

LordZ · 10-13-2009, 03:01 PM

Also make sure the tires are the same type. I had the same feeling running older R888's up front with new full tread RA1's in the rear.

But yes, have the alignment checked as well.

buzzy · 10-13-2009, 03:13 PM

ditto on alignment

Rainier · 10-13-2009, 03:14 PM

Too much air pressure in tires can cause a car to feel floaty (as will hitting standing water at speed

)

The missing panel under the engine will likely reduce the aerodynamic downforce on the rear wheels also.

schodrow · 10-13-2009, 03:52 PM

ditto check alignment first

at that speed sounds like rear wheels are out of alignment. If you think it is on rails at lower speeds now, wait 'til after the alignment.

Seb · 10-13-2009, 04:08 PM

Make sure nobody put your under panel on upside down on the last oil change.

jmiesse · 10-13-2009, 04:34 PM

He said the under panel is missing!!!!

ErictheBastard · 10-13-2009, 05:24 PM

Any other evidence that the car was wrecked? If the aluminum tub is bent in any way, the car is considered totaled - the tub should be replaced. Spend some time under the car and look for damage to the tub, especially around the suspension mounts (look for 3/4 square tubing that might have been bent then repaired). If this is the case, go after the seller with a lawyer.

If everything is straight and original, check alignment, condition of toe links, etc... Also, don't inflate your tires to 32psi!!! Start at the factory recommended pressures (26F, 28R) and you'll probably go down from there.

ashworboys · 10-14-2009, 07:21 AM

Folks,

Thank you very much!

Going on Friday to have the alignment checked out - thats got to be it. The inner wear on rear right tire is just too extreme - Also anybody have the center underpanel for sale - I will post that on the "buy it" site!

Many many thanks to you all!

After I fix this I think I will go try the Tail of the Dragon on the Carolina -Tennessee border!

Best wishes to all!

mrcarcrazy · 10-14-2009, 07:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ashworboys

Folks,

Thank you very much!

Going on Friday to have the alignment checked out - thats got to be it. The inner wear on rear right tire is just too extreme - Also anybody have the center underpanel for sale - I will post that on the "buy it" site!

Many many thanks to you all!

After I fix this I think I will go try the Tail of the Dragon on the Carolina -Tennessee border!

Best wishes to all!

Go ahead and have them check the SAI and Included angle. just for good measure.

Mr. Know · 10-14-2009, 08:28 AM

Make sure the alignment shop looks for anything out of the ordinary like bent parts and repairs that may have taken place. Also run your VIN through CarFax to see if anything pops up about an accident. Its not guaranteed to alert you of something, but it's worth checking. Did the seller represent the car as accident free or does the car have a salvage title? You could also post the VIN here and let our members dig up info...they are actually quite good at it.

Seb · 10-14-2009, 08:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jmiesse

He said the under panel is missing!!!!

Well holy ****, that's why it feels like crap at highway speeds.

10-13-2009, 01:31 PM	#1 (permalink)
ashworboys Ash 05 Elise Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Kernersville, NC Posts: 14	Help - Elise feels "floaty" at 80 MPH Ladies and Gents, I need a little help - I recently bought a 2005 Chrome Orange Lotus 19k miles - I now know that one of the underpanels - the one under the engine is gone! My Boxster nor Triumph Spitfires ever had "underpanties" so I never even considered looking and I did not know of this cool site at the time. Is this seriously effecting the handeling of the car? Something just doesn't feel right - it handles like it is on rails on the downtown streets of Winston Salem but on I-40 running 80 mph it just feels like it is not solidly planted - I am getting a lot inner tire wear on the rear tires after 6K miles - additionally I hit a puddle of water going about 77 to 80 mph and WOW high adventure - the back end was swishing and sliding all around! So whats up? Any advice? In hindsight and after looking around the car for an extended period of time I am certain that this Elise was wrecked but I have no idea of the damage. Thank you in advace for your input. ADW Last edited by ashworboys : 10-13-2009 at 01:33 PM. Reason: mispelled

10-13-2009, 01:37 PM	#2 (permalink)
zygotesoup Resident Drunk Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Rochester, NY Posts: 1,226	bald tires (especially A048's), missing underpanels, and evidence that the car was wrecked? it could be any number of things... or a combination of issues. im not sure what to tell you except good luck! __________________ 2005 BADA55 Lotus Elise 1993 Black BMW 325i 2000 Solar Yellow MR-S - SOLD 1987 White on White Porsche 944 Turbo - SOLD 1993 Maroon Lexus SC400 - SOLD

10-13-2009, 02:20 PM	#6 (permalink)
ZTEC Third Eye Open Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Florida Posts: 1,737 Images: 3	A proper alignment will make all the difference in the world! Attached Images __________________ GO: Vision Function Stage II Intercooled Bliss with Charlie's ECU magic and Ronin's Tenacity! STOP: DBA 4000's, Porterfield R4! TURN: Nitron S/A's Toyo RA1's 225/245 on Rota's!

10-13-2009, 03:14 PM	#9 (permalink)
Rainier Registered User Join Date: May 2007 Posts: 164	Too much air pressure in tires can cause a car to feel floaty (as will hitting standing water at speed ) The missing panel under the engine will likely reduce the aerodynamic downforce on the rear wheels also. __________________ I will arise and go now, and go to Innisfree... Last edited by Rainier : 10-13-2009 at 03:35 PM.

10-13-2009, 04:34 PM	#12 (permalink)
jmiesse Registered User Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Ohio Posts: 565	He said the under panel is missing!!!! __________________ 05 AS Elise. Tour and Sport Pack. Hard Top.Stage II Exhaust, Sport ecu, Pagid RS 4-2s,Toyo R888's, Shifter Matrix brace, Micro Mirror

10-13-2009, 01:45 PM	#3 (permalink)
Lifespan Registered User Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Redmond, WA Posts: 92	Sounds like there could be quite a few things. The first question is what tires you are using and how much tread is left? The Elise is a very light weight car, so it's very possible for the car to get a little "floaty" on standing water at a high speed. That's pretty normal.

10-13-2009, 01:50 PM	#4 (permalink)
shokwaves Registered User Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Carson, California Posts: 1,018	Alignment can be a big influence on how planted the car feels. Just check tire thread, alignment and replace the bellypan and you should be good to go.

10-13-2009, 01:57 PM	#5 (permalink)
ads_green Registered User Join Date: Oct 2008 Posts: 361	Ride height and rake is also a big factor - the front should be 10mm lower than the rear else the car will go very light at speed. The undertrays don't add much even at that speed.

10-13-2009, 03:01 PM	#7 (permalink)
LordZ 06 S280 Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Houston, TX Posts: 1,312	Also make sure the tires are the same type. I had the same feeling running older R888's up front with new full tread RA1's in the rear. But yes, have the alignment checked as well.

10-13-2009, 03:13 PM	#8 (permalink)
buzzy Registered User Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: The Moon Posts: 879 Images: 10	ditto on alignment

10-13-2009, 03:52 PM	#10 (permalink)
schodrow Registered User Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Burlington,NJ Posts: 18	ditto check alignment first at that speed sounds like rear wheels are out of alignment. If you think it is on rails at lower speeds now, wait 'til after the alignment.

10-13-2009, 04:08 PM	#11 (permalink)
Seb <3 QR25DE Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Austin, TX Posts: 754	Make sure nobody put your under panel on upside down on the last oil change.

10-13-2009, 05:24 PM	#13 (permalink)
ErictheBastard NOT the Stig Join Date: Feb 2009 Posts: 265 Images: 5	Any other evidence that the car was wrecked? If the aluminum tub is bent in any way, the car is considered totaled - the tub should be replaced. Spend some time under the car and look for damage to the tub, especially around the suspension mounts (look for 3/4 square tubing that might have been bent then repaired). If this is the case, go after the seller with a lawyer. If everything is straight and original, check alignment, condition of toe links, etc... Also, don't inflate your tires to 32psi!!! Start at the factory recommended pressures (26F, 28R) and you'll probably go down from there. __________________ Eric the Bastard, Esq. Sylmar, CA 2005 Buzzbomb Chrome Orange Larini SE Exhaust LETSLA shift kit

10-14-2009, 07:21 AM	#14 (permalink)
ashworboys Ash 05 Elise Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Kernersville, NC Posts: 14	Thank You Very Much Folks, Thank you very much! Going on Friday to have the alignment checked out - thats got to be it. The inner wear on rear right tire is just too extreme - Also anybody have the center underpanel for sale - I will post that on the "buy it" site! Many many thanks to you all! After I fix this I think I will go try the Tail of the Dragon on the Carolina -Tennessee border! Best wishes to all!

10-14-2009, 08:28 AM	#16 (permalink)
Mr. Know British by extrapolation Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Marin, California Posts: 3,350 Images: 6	Make sure the alignment shop looks for anything out of the ordinary like bent parts and repairs that may have taken place. Also run your VIN through CarFax to see if anything pops up about an accident. Its not guaranteed to alert you of something, but it's worth checking. Did the seller represent the car as accident free or does the car have a salvage title? You could also post the VIN here and let our members dig up info...they are actually quite good at it. __________________ 07 Magnetic Blue Exige S Join the Blue Lotus Team on Facebook.

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