By Jim Seippel
(from Lotus email list - Dec 31, 1997)

Having just completed power antenna replacement on my 84 Turbo Esprit, I have written a procedure that worked for me.

On the '84 Turbo Esprit, you CAN NOT replace the power antenna by removing the door as suggested in the Esprit fact file. Since so many owners believe that you can replace the antenna by removing the door, there may be some models of the Esprit that access the antenna through the door opening. You can identify whether or not you can access the antenna through the door opening by peering past the hinge and looking for the antenna. If you find a curved piece of fiberglass and do not see the antenna, you must replace the antenna from inside the car. Since the body mold would have to be different to mount the antenna from the outside of the passenger compartment, it should be easy to identify when and if the body change took place.

1. Unscrew the nut at the top of the antenna (on the outside of the car) and remove the assorted hardware from the antenna base. If your antenna is broken in the extended position, it will probably be necessary to break off the antenna and cut the nylon driver. You will find it impossible to remove the antenna with the mast extended.

2. Remove the glove box door. There are two Phillips head screws at the hinges.

3. Remove the glove compartment. It is not absolutely necessary to remove the glove compartment, but you will have a lot better access and you will save time in the long run. The glove compartment is removed by unscrewing the relays attached to the rear of the compartment. They are attached with Phillips head screws with nuts on the backside. There are also three self-taping screws used to attach the relays. Now remove the mounting screws that attach the glove compartment to the dash. They are also Phillips head screws with nuts on the bottom. Now remove the self taping screws that attach the glove compartment to the frame rail at the top rear of the glove compartment. Carefully flex the ears at the top front of the glove compartment toward the inside and remove the glove compartment by lowering it out the bottom.

4. Carefully peel back the carpet over the edges of the half-round cover that hides the air conditioning hoses. Drill out the blind rivets used to attach this cover to the body. There are two rivets on the base flange and one rivet about halfway up the side closest to the outside of the car. Once you have removed the rivets, remove the cover and set it aside.

5. Now you can see the base of the antenna. Remove the mounting strap from the body of the car and unscrew the strap from the base of the antenna.

6. Unplug the wires from the antenna relay and also unplug the antenna lead from the radio. Aren't you glad that you removed the glove box?

7. Now remove the antenna by working it toward the inside of the car while twisting the antenna reel toward the rear of the car. It will be helpful to move the air conditioning freon return line (the large line) out of the way. You can tie it toward the inside of the car or you can beg your significant other to sit in the car and help hold it out of the way. You will find that using your SO will provide quality time for them to bond with your car as well and the added benefit of teaching your SO a new language as you talk to the old antenna. Now that you have the antenna in your hands, you need to decide what to do about a replacement. You have several options. You can use a non-power antenna (this is the wimp option). You can replace the antenna with an original power antenna from Lotus (this is the smart move since the antenna will fit correctly). You can look for an after-market power antenna that will fit. If you choose the later method, you will have the ability to choose an antenna that has a replaceable mast. This means that you can replace the mast without removing the antenna. However, the selection of after-market antennas is critical. Because of the size of the body opening, you will have a great deal of trouble finding an after-market antenna that will fit. Use the original antenna as a template. Look for a replacement that is the same size as the original on the side that will be mounted toward the outside of the car (the mast side). Length is not as critical. You do not have much clearance. If you do not choose wisely, you will wind up with an antenna that whips pedestrians as you drive past them. I did not pick a good fit and had to perform unnatural acts to get the antenna to raise and lower vertically.

8. To reinstall the antenna, reverse the removal procedure listed above. If you use an after-market antenna, you will have to remove the original antenna relay and use the relay provided with the new antenna. I suggest that you raise and lower the antenna several time before replacing the AC hose cover and glove box. You can use screws in place of blind rivets to attach the AC hose cover, but you must be careful to select a screw length that is short enough that is will not puncture the AC hoses.

If you use the original equipment replacement antenna, the whole job should take between one and two hours. If you use a replacement antenna, you can spend MUCH MORE TIME.

Good luck,