Now my bloody service bonnet wont open

[lady topaz]

Really gets on your t*ts, especially in this weather when you most need to check the vital fluids. No chance, the catch lifts but the securing pin just sits there grinning at me without budging an inch. Sigh.,anyone any ideas?(other than see dealer)

Pi**ed off of Sidcup.

[mad-dot]

Try pulling up the service bonnet, near the pin..it should spring open. Mine does, because the catch wouldn't pop out on mine, so I gave the bonnet a tug, and it opened

[LucyB]

You need to supply more bottles of beer to Walldonway, Di. Then the bonnet will open !!!



Lucy

[TSS]

I had the same problem with my near side pin. I found that the angle of the rest of the bonnet seemed to affect how easily it would release. Normally I would open the central catch and then pull out the pins, but sometimes it was impossible to open unless the central catch was closed and the pin on the other side was pulled out.

One time it just refused to pull out at all. The solution was to get a can of WD40 with one of the thin tubes which plugs into the spray nozzle. Bend the tube under the side of the service bonnet so you can lubricate the pin socket – not very easy, but just about possible. Probably best not to lubricate it too much as you don’t want it opening by itself.

[lady topaz]

LucyB said:

You need to supply more bottles of beer to Walldonway, Di. Then the bonnet will open !!! Lucy

[st george]

Just had a similar problem. The catchtube had twisted slightly. I found that by (very gently of course) puting some rag on the wing and using a small screwdriver to push the service bonnet away from the wing slightly, it pulled up.
It could then be twisted straight again.

TRS

[plipton]

Over the last few (very hot) days I've had the opposite problem - both ends of the service bonnet pop open as I'm driving along. This has happened 5 times so far since Saturday

I've tried adjusting the catches but so far this hasn't helped!

Plipton

[yohan]

plipton said:

Over the last few (very hot) days I've had the opposite problem - both ends of the service bonnet pop open as I'm driving along. This has happened 5 times so far since Saturday I've tried adjusting the catches but so far this hasn't helped! Plipton

Try adjusting the catches so they are rotated slightly backwards from their ideal position. Only a tiny adjustment is required and they will grip better. Also worth a try - remove the sprung bit, squeeze with pliers and refit.

[philgladwin]

Took mine back next day after collecting it, it needed a realy hard tug!! throught let the dealer do it just in case. The pins did not line up, good as gold now...

[plipton]

yohan said:

plipton said: Over the last few (very hot) days I've had the opposite problem - both ends of the service bonnet pop open as I'm driving along. This has happened 5 times so far since Saturday I've tried adjusting the catches but so far this hasn't helped! Plipton Try adjusting the catches so they are rotated slightly backwards from their ideal position. Only a tiny adjustment is required and they will grip better. Also worth a try - remove the sprung bit, squeeze with pliers and refit.

Jeepers. Found the problem, the catches were nowhere near lined up and the bonnet was bent in about 3mm on the left and about 5mm on the right. I adjusted the (bonnet mounted) strikers on both sides - had to reverse the right one - and ... Bingo!! Sorted.

I took the opportunity to get the whole bonnet the line up all the way round - it was too low on the back edges and near side and too high on the front off side. It fits fine now, pops on and off easily and on a 200 mile trip from Falmouth to Saouthampton on Friday it stayed put - even at, er, 70MPH (give or take a bit !!)

[Nick Elliott]

Had the service bonnet popping issue with mine some time ago and actually found the drivers side catch was bolted on the bonnet the wrong way around! And the metal back plate had been bent to make it fit.

Nick

[lady topaz]

Possibly the mysteries of very hot weather. Some WD40 and the pin slides back like nothing ever happened. This after days of pleading, tugging, poking etc. Maybe it just felt sorry for me. All ok now though