Bonnet Catch Problem

[jacklewisno1]

Hi there,

i have a problem. Im currently looking after a friends Astra 1.7 SRI while he's abroad for a few months. I just turn the engine over every few days and take it for a quick spin round a car park to keep the battery and brakes in half decent condition.

Today i decided to open the bonnet up to check the fluids. When i came to close the bonnet it wouldn't sit properly. The catch seems to go in to place but the bonnet is still loose. I tried several times and even broke out the manual to see if theirs something im not doing properly, to no avail.

Any ideas?

Cheers,

Jack

[Winky151]

Not an afficienado of Astras but most Vxs have rubber grommets which are screwed into the bonnet to help the seating, is one missing or too far in (they're actually threaded so screw or unscrew as necessary)?

[jacklewisno1]

Had another look today. Tried removing the rubber stop things, but unfortunately it didnt work. I cant see anything obvious that would be causing the problem. The handle inside the car is still slack, perhaps it could be some sort of cable problem?

[Winky151]

Is the bonnet actually shut when its hut if you get what I mean? When its down can you then re-open it without pulling the release?

[jacklewisno1]

Yes i can re-open the bonnet straight away after closing it without using the handle inside the car. The handle itself is slack. I can also hear the turbo when i drive the car, which before i couldn't. Suggesting there is a gap.

The only thing i can think of now is to give it one all mighty slam to try and shut it. But as its not my car id rather not!

[Winky151]

When the bonnet is up can you see the spring in the hole where the catch goes (I'd suggest you can't) in which case the spring is stuck? Give it a spray with some WD40 & grease it & should correct it. If not, make sure the cable is following its normal course but I think the first bit should sort it. You can see the spring in the hole in the pic below (not of an Astra I'd add but all the same regardless).

[jacklewisno1]

I didnt fully understand the last post. But there is a spring attached to the bonnet itself. Its wrapped around a piece of metal that obviously fits into the car when the bonnets closed. The spring has a bit of grease on it.

That probably didnt explain it very well. Ill take a picture either tomorrow or the day after and post it as im not with the car at the moment. Hopefully thats the issue.

[Winky151]

jacklewisno1 said:

I didnt fully understand the last post. But there is a spring attached to the bonnet itself. Its wrapped around a piece of metal that obviously fits into the car when the bonnets closed. The spring has a bit of grease on it.

That probably didnt explain it very well. Ill take a picture either tomorrow or the day after and post it as im not with the car at the moment. Hopefully thats the issue.

Its ok, I fully understood your post. Yes that spring goes into the hole in the slam panel. In the picture I posted you can see a bit of metal going across the hole, this sits into the spring on the bonnet holding it down when closed. When you pull on the bonnet release cable this bit of metal is pulled out from between the coils of the spring on the bonnet thus releasing it. If all you can see on your friends Astra is a hole with nothing going across it the bit of metal is stuck. On your own car, have a look at the same area with the bonnet up & get someone to pull the bonnet release cable, you'll see the metal across the hole move out of the way & you'll then know what you're looking for.

[jacklewisno1]

Cheers for that, its starting to make sense now. And yes your right i couldn't see that piece of metal in the hole on the slam panel. when i was looking at the car last i had a feeling that there must be more than simply a spring and a hole to hold the bonnet in place.

I went outside and had at look at my bonnet as you suggested, but as it happens my little Abarth uses a different system. Even so you have been very helpful and i thank you for that!

Ill have a look at the Astra tomorrow if i can and see what i can do.

[jacklewisno1]

Problem fixed! Well sort of, i have managed to shut the bonnet properly now. Had a look around the hole in the slam panel. Sprayed some WD40, removed some of the sludge that was built up in there and moved the bonnet release catch back and forward a few times. However after shutting and re-opening the bonnet it then refused to close again. Is the piece of metal in the hole supposed to extend all the way across like it does in your photo? Or were you just showing that for demonstration purposes?

Some pics...
http://www.flickr.com/photos/93756417@N03/91838315...

http://www.flickr.com/photos/93756417@N03/91838341...

http://www.flickr.com/photos/93756417@N03/91860563...

[Winky151]

That is serious amount of sludge build up. Does your mate not look after his cars?

The metal 'catch' should go all the way across as it does in your pics too (under the crud). I believe its fixed one end but as previously stated its shaped to move out of the way of the hole when the bonnet release is pulled. I can see dirt around the edge of the hole so I'd be tempted to get the pressure washer on that area to clean it out & then another good dose of WD40 followed by some grease. You're clearly going in the right direction with it the fact you got it closed so I reckon a few more times will see you right (either that or get it closed & don't open it again until your mate comes home ).

[jacklewisno1]

No he does not look after his car! He bought it without any service history and its now covered 85k and he's not serviced it either. I honestly dont think he's ever looked under the bonnet. The breaks are very weak and the oils as black as black. I know diesels are dirtier than petrol but surely his oil should be bronze at worst. So all in all its a shed really. Ill have another crack at the bonnet later, but im thinking it may be best too leave it shut after that. Ive emailed him to tell him to get it serviced. Cheers for your help. Read your profile. You have a Lotus Carlton! Top notch!