Lotus Elan and Lotus Elan Plus 2 Forums

Have quite a lot of water in both doors on an S4. Should there be drain holes in the bottom? They may have been sealed over during restoration. Presumably nothing against drilling some small holes at the lowest point? Think water is ingressing through holes in the top of the elongated front section of the door. Thanks, Nick

Hi Nick,
Yes there should be drain holes, my S4 has three in each door approx 9mm diameter.




There was also a mod in later cars to fit a drain tube from the hole in the gutter on top of the front of the door to direct water into the bottom of the door.

Many thanks Roger! Hopefully pics attached showing holes in top, but not in bottom of the door. Not a good combination! Guess will drill a couple. Is it ok to seal the top holes to stop ingress, or will the water just then run in to the footwell?

Even if you seal the upper drain hole, water will still enter the door via the window felt seal so you would still need drain holes in the bottom. The secondary door seal on the body channels water into the gutter on top of the door and out through the top drain hole into the door, I personally wouldn't be inclined to seal it up. If you do go that route I would tape it over initially so you can easily remove it if you end up with water in the footwell

Bell out some small copper pipe and thread it down the top door hole gutter. I drilled a bottom hole in a better postition so i could dog leg the pipe nicely through the bottom hole.
Secured it with a knob of bridging paste inside the door around the bottom were the pipe exits. Bit of careful manipulation to ensute the top of the belled out pipe sits below the surface. Also a tad of silicone. Then the water can exit through the door. Obviously as mentioned you still get water in the door from the glass but I think the above helps when you get caught in a heavy down pour.

Great, thank you. Have drilled 3 holes in the bottom of each door, and will now fit a tube to take water from the hole in the channel at the top of the door, down to the bottom. That should hopefully do the trick. Thanks again, Nick.

Mike,

Excuse my ignorance. What is bridging paste?

Richard Hawkins

Bridging Paste is body filler with glass fibre strands already mixed in.

The 'official' 'grommets' at the top aren't that great because they sit proud (unless you recessed before painting!) and getting the pipe to stay attached isn't easy.

I really like the suggestion of belling some copper pipe - but I'm worried about the extra weight

Mark,

Thanks for the explanation.

Richard