Bonnet release advice

[Husbandofstinky]

I have read recently that some members had difficulties releasing their bonnets. Recently mine had started to stick.

The issue here is the lower pivet point on the left had side of the mechanism (as you look at the car). It looks remarkably like a rivet. Having squirted WD40 at it and rocked the main catch side to side this weekend a fair amount of rust coloured WD40 seeped out from this pivot point. Had this pivet point seized solid then it would have been an absolute sod to release the bonnet.

My advice to all members would be to do the same with the WD40 and work out this corrosion before the salt gets laid down and potentially make the matter worse. In the next day or so I'll spray some grease there.

To release the bonnet I had to use some pliers on the grill release tab (not something I was comforable with).

A two minute job could save a lot of grief as anyone would know whose had to release a locked down bonnet.

 

[Husbandofstinky]

Owners please take note. Yet today someone else has fallen fowl to this issue:

linky

For the sake of two minutes!

 

[Willie]

Also one the WD40 has done its job ensure this is lubricated with white grease or the like

 

[andycupra]

good advice.

The bonnet catch is often missed off routine maintenance and the issue is only exagerated if you are someone that never opens the bonnet. (to check oil levels etc).

WD40 is good for getting crap out, but id also advise using a thicker lubricant afterwards thats going to last longer.

 

[Willie]

Ah ha

Beat you

 

[Husbandofstinky]

In the next day or so I'll spray some grease there.

Clearly missed this bit from the thread!! That's worse than me.

I'll use chain lube (as for the bikes).

I've just come accross this problem several times recently and with winter coming in.. salt... You know.

Service sprayed the mecahinism but not this pivot point - The bit that siezes!

Just hope it helps someone before the inevitable.

 

[JamesL]

will make sure I take a look at this. Thanks for the heads up!

 

[lc_allan]

I use GT-85 instead of WD-40. Does a similar job but contains teflon and leaves behind a little coating.
Still use some grease on top with no issues.

 

[gav_FR]

Reviving an old thread here but sound advice on keeping the bonnet release catch lubed up

I've just had trouble trying to close my bonnet after checking oil levels etc and a quick search brought up this thread. When I open the bonnet it felt a bit stiff to release when I pulled the lever in the grille, and then when I came to shut it again the lever locked in but the bonnet wouldn't push down onto the main catch. I opened it up again and the main lower catch was really stiff and hardly budging at all, even with a fair amount of force applied with a screwdriver. I absolutely soaked the whole mechanism with WD40 and gave it all a good wiggle with a screwdriver to loosen it all up and it is working perfectly now

I've greased it up to try and prevent it happening again but I will certainly make it a part of my routine maintenance and would advise others to do so too!

 

[Cris L]

Reviving an old thread.....

I've fallen foul of a stuck bonnet catch...... And it snapped off

Can somebody advise as to how i go about opening the bonnet without doing any damage (to myself or the car!). It's kinda urgent.....

 

[Cris L]

Anyone???

 

[Willie]

Well the catch needs to be pulled forward to release the bonnet.
You need to locate the piece that needs to be pulled forward, find and tool to allow you to do this and do it.

 

[Cris L]

Right. . . . .

 

[BCM]

I had s similar issue although me lever thing was still on it wasn't doing any good, used 2 long screw drivers and a torch (friend or 3rd hand required) if siad friend is available, get them to hold the bonnet up till you get the screw drivers in and then release the pressure by lowering the bonnet down so you can slide open the 2 latches, kinda like to "C"' shaped claws from each side that grab the bonnet loop.

 

[Willie]

Right. . . . .

I'm in the middle of the north sea, you have not told us anything about how far you have gotten with opening/releasing your bonnet, there are very good suggestions in this section and you can use the search function the same as everyone else.

 

[Cris L]

I had s similar issue although me lever thing was still on it wasn't doing any good, used 2 long screw drivers and a torch (friend or 3rd hand required) if siad friend is available, get them to hold the bonnet up till you get the screw drivers in and then release the pressure by lowering the bonnet down so you can slide open the 2 latches, kinda like to "C"' shaped claws from each side that grab the bonnet loop.

I actually did this earlier and it works a treat, once ya see which way the latch has to be pushed out of the way. Thanks anyway, BCM.

 

[montana83]

Hello

Same problem here, my bonnet opens 1cm at best and then stays there, the lil pull tab dont pop out and cant do anything with it, tried playing around with screwdrivers but cant seem to find any moving parts

Any ideas??

 

[oldman]

i had this, though the tab did poke out and no puling would sort.
a good dose of wd40 fixed it and now make a habit of opening it once a week for no reason other than to keep the thing freed up.

good guide husbandof...

 

[montana83]

Where abouts am i aquirting the wd40 as i have given it a good coating a couple of times and no joy??

 

[Husbandofstinky]

Can't think exactly without being with the car, but I think that its the pivot point just to the left (as you face the car) where the tab pops out. Where it'll stick/corroded is where two metal pieces are pressed together, so best aim is from above and this is almost impossible with the bonnet down. My advice would be continue to squirt the WD in there and hopefully some of it may help.

Its a sort of sods law scenario, you need to see the mechanism and the best way really is with the bonnet up.

I used some spray grease on mine a few weeks ago - just in case.