Bonnet catch not working

[munkimafia]

Just filled up the windscreen washer and then my bonnet wont close!

Had it before, and got the garage to close it but its happened again.

Seems to catch on the first catch, but wont push the mechanism down properly to lock in place.

Pushing the mechanism down without the bonnet seems to work, and I can see the action that should occur, where by it pushes it down top the left,

Any one else had this problem? Know any solutions? Can provide photos if my appalling explanation doesn't make any sense!

Cheers as ever.

 

[Muttley]

Extensive application of spray oil or motorcycle chain lube usually works, unless something has broken. Not WD-40, that just goes sticky itself after a while. The catch gets sprayed with water and crud from the road and needs lubrication every so often.

 

[munkimafia]

Do you reckon this will do the trick?

http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/...uctId_221665_langId_-1_categoryId_165705#tab3

 

[Muttley]

The Halfords spray white grease should work fine.

I use this one, but that's because I have it on the shelf already.

 

[munkimafia]

Thanks for the advice, alas it didnt work.

It seems like there is nothing pushing back from the bonnet side, to make the middle bit of the catch engage. I can see the first catch come across when closing the bonnet, but there is no push back to the second part that is required to close the second locking mechanism.

Will have to take it somewhere tomorrow and get it looked at.

Nothing wrong with the locking bit by the looks of thing though.

VERY frustrating

 

[munkimafia]

Fixed it!!!! The main, or first catch, had bent backwards towards the engine by about 15 degrees meaning it wasn't tall enough to grab the lock bar on the bonnet. Screwdriver to pull it forward seems to have done the trick. Not ideal though, cant help thinking a garage has dropped it too hard at some point. Thanks for the help though!

 

[A nice cupra T]

Hi, without sounding like a tool (not hard I know) whats the correct procedure to close the bonnet? Do you just drop it to close? I've tried pressing down on it but it doesn't lock shut? I really don't want to damage my paint or break the catch

 

[Muttley]

Drop a few inches or a sharp press from rest. Shouldn't need any more than that, at least mine never have.

 

[A nice cupra T]

Drop a few inches or a sharp press from rest. Shouldn't need any more than that, at least mine never have.

Cheers. A sharp press from rest did it in the end.

 

[big eck]

I've been told by countless body shops to NEVER press the bonnet when closing it. It should be dropped from a few inches.

 

[dazjstuart]

I prefer dropping it from about a foot or so, don't really like pushing it from rest as I always think it might buckle the bonnet.

 

[A nice cupra T]

I've been told by countless body shops to NEVER press the bonnet when closing it. It should be dropped from a few inches.

I prefer dropping it from about a foot or so, don't really like pushing it from rest as I always think it might buckle the bonnet.

I tried dropping it from around a foot but it didn't want to lock shut. Maybe I shouldn't admit it but I actually shut it down using me bum (I'm not overly portly so no dings were left on the bonnet anyway).


EDIT: Just tried it again and dropped it --> IT CLOSED! Maybe I just wasn't dropping it from high enough originally. I dunno I've just always closed my bonnets by pushing them down as I feel that's kinder on the car and it's paintwork. But I guess more likely to cause dents on newer modern cars.