As the title suggests im having great difficulty getting my bonnet to close. This happened a few months back but i got it shut after a few attempts but now its just taken about half an hour. The bonnet release catch inside the car is ok and going back into place (not open position) and i've sprayed wd40 on bonnet latch? and bonnet catch mechanism. I've also tried to adjust the little rubber gromets on the bonnet so they are shorter but dont know if these would affect it. Anyway i got it closed a few times but i gave the bonnet a pull up the way to make sure it wouldnt fly up whilst traveling at speed but it still kept popping up. Eventually got it closed but as i said it took half an hour and a lot of banging and swearing, not ideal. So can anyone help me with a fix i can do or has anyone else came across this problem, sorry for the ramble guys, cheers!
Bonnet won't close, help please guys.
- Thread starter cossie
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i'd imagine its the lock has siezed up or is gunked up with *****.
If you get someone to pull the release arm while you look at the mechanism, you should be able to see the linkage that moves over, Its probably not moving back to the "locked" position. Might be able to free it up if you apply some oil and work it back and forward.
If you get someone to pull the release arm while you look at the mechanism, you should be able to see the linkage that moves over, Its probably not moving back to the "locked" position. Might be able to free it up if you apply some oil and work it back and forward.
Foxmeister
Fired Up!
As Aragorn said mate, few people have had the same problem.
Although the handle in the car returns back to postion, the mechanism under bonnet will be stuck open slightly due to lack of maintenance etc. Needs a clean out, then some new grease and worked a bit.
Although the handle in the car returns back to postion, the mechanism under bonnet will be stuck open slightly due to lack of maintenance etc. Needs a clean out, then some new grease and worked a bit.
Old thread I know but many thanks for the above Aragorn / Foxmeister.
I too found myself smashing the bonnet down and swearing in the street on Friday night before taking a train as I wasn't sure whether the safety catch alone would hold out for 2 hours on the M1.
I just got a chance to take off the lower bonnet latch, soaked it in degreaser repeatedly then drowned it in WD40 before working it with a pair of pliers until it was freely clicking back and forth again. Put it back on, dropped the bonnet from a few inches up and CLICK. Locked perfectly without any pressure from above. Cheers!
I too found myself smashing the bonnet down and swearing in the street on Friday night before taking a train as I wasn't sure whether the safety catch alone would hold out for 2 hours on the M1.
I just got a chance to take off the lower bonnet latch, soaked it in degreaser repeatedly then drowned it in WD40 before working it with a pair of pliers until it was freely clicking back and forth again. Put it back on, dropped the bonnet from a few inches up and CLICK. Locked perfectly without any pressure from above. Cheers!
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Job well done. Did you put some white grease, or any other type of grease, back on latch? If not, it will quickly seize up again after removal of the original/old grease...
Dan
I did my best to get regular engine grease in there by dipping a piece of card and pushing it down the gap. I got a bit in there but it was such a small gap I'm not satisfied. I am going to buy spray grease later today.
Hi I had the infuriating bonnet not closing problem too. The release handle felt as if the cable had broken because there was no tension in it however I sprayed WD 40 all over the bonnet catch mechanism as suggested in earlier posts which cleared all the gunk but it still didn't enable the catch. I tried pushing the latch-lever on the left with a screwdriver and depressing the two thin metal bars across the gap in the lock where the bonnet bar drops into, a similar solution was required with a stuck boot lock. All the parts were moving but still the bonnet wouldn't click shut. A neighbour spotted that I was having a problem and suggested that I find long thin rigid metal rod and insert it in a small hole on the left hand side of the lock at the same time as someone pulling the release latch in the car. Bingo. It released a small arm that swings over to the right on top of the latch coming from the left to keep in place which kept the bonnet shut. No banging or slamming required. Such a stupid little fix that was immediate. I couldn't find any posts mentioning that the lock worked like this and it isn't immediately visible or obvious until someone points it out. I hope this helps.
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Good job updating the thread, I’m sure this will be useful for someone at some point. Lost count of how many times I’ve read through a thread only to find the solution isn’t supplied!
I had a similar problem with the bonnet catch on my Audi A3 2006.
I undid the 3 bolts holding the bonnet catch mechanism to the body)
I prised the mechanism out from its slot (release cable and sensor still attached)
Cleaned the mechanism thoroughly (including the underneath of the mechanism which gave access to the offending spring) - once all was cleaned - lubricated - reassembled (ie. bolting it back in using the 3 bolts) and problem was resolved.
I undid the 3 bolts holding the bonnet catch mechanism to the body)
I prised the mechanism out from its slot (release cable and sensor still attached)
Cleaned the mechanism thoroughly (including the underneath of the mechanism which gave access to the offending spring) - once all was cleaned - lubricated - reassembled (ie. bolting it back in using the 3 bolts) and problem was resolved.
Same problem, any help appreciated.
Sorry if it's not overly clear - if you have had the same problem I imagine it makes perfect sense!
I have cleaned the mechanism.
When the cable is disconnected the retaining hook/arm (to the right in the lock) easily covers the corresponding lug on the bigger sprung section (the part on the left) when I push the latch down with a screwdriver as it would be with the bonnet being shut.
Everything looks where it should be & secure.
Once I reconnect the cable it is obviously snagging or similar as the retaining hook part barely latches onto the lug. Slightest bump & the retaining latch pops open to release the catch.
It's like the cable has suddenly shortened by a few mm & will not allow the full travel for the retaining part to hold the latch closed.
Have only just got the car & a few little bits to fix up. This is a game-changer though as I can't drive it if the bonnet won't stay shut.
Sorry if it's not overly clear - if you have had the same problem I imagine it makes perfect sense!
I have cleaned the mechanism.
When the cable is disconnected the retaining hook/arm (to the right in the lock) easily covers the corresponding lug on the bigger sprung section (the part on the left) when I push the latch down with a screwdriver as it would be with the bonnet being shut.
Everything looks where it should be & secure.
Once I reconnect the cable it is obviously snagging or similar as the retaining hook part barely latches onto the lug. Slightest bump & the retaining latch pops open to release the catch.
It's like the cable has suddenly shortened by a few mm & will not allow the full travel for the retaining part to hold the latch closed.
Have only just got the car & a few little bits to fix up. This is a game-changer though as I can't drive it if the bonnet won't stay shut.
