Print

Please login or register.
1 Hour 1 Day 1 Week 1 Month Forever
Login with username, password and session length

[rds]

many thanks; it's always good to share tips!

[Nick W]

It's always worth checking that the pin and spring on the bonnet are in good condition, clean and lubricated as well as the mechanism on the crossmember

[rds]

good point Nick; I will see if the spring is compressible, however it is lubricated.

[grifter]

It's always worth checking that the pin and spring on the bonnet are in good condition, clean and lubricated as well as the mechanism on the crossmember

Apart from general lubrication, how else can you determine if the spring is ok? I generally give them a bit of oil or spray grease every so often, same with door hinges and catches and anything else that moves/pivots is a hinge.

[Nick W]

It's always worth checking that the pin and spring on the bonnet are in good condition, clean and lubricated as well as the mechanism on the crossmember

Apart from general lubrication, how else can you determine if the spring is ok? I generally give them a bit of oil or spray grease every so often, same with door hinges and catches and anything else that moves/pivots is a hinge.

Check that the spring isn't rusted to the retaining cap or broken, and that there isn't any crap caught in it.


The pin needs to be straight, reasonably clean, greased and burr free where it slots into the latch. They usually screw in or out to provide the bonnet closed height adjustment, so if the car has been damaged at the grill/headlight height that might be necessary.


It only takes minor faults with any of these to make the whole assembly reluctant to release.

[rds]

I will thanks - do you think the couple of heavy slams of the bonnet might have mal-adjusted the alignment?

[Doctor Gollum]

I will thanks - do you think the couple of heavy slams of the bonnet might have mal-adjusted the alignment?

Almost impossible to say either way. If one or both of the bump stops are missing, then the extra twist won't help. If the pin is misaligned then the extra force may have bent it... Any corrosion may cause binding, and may not be immediately visible.

[rds]

nothing missing thankfully but a clean up wont go amiss anyway.

[grifter]

It's always worth checking that the pin and spring on the bonnet are in good condition, clean and lubricated as well as the mechanism on the crossmember

Apart from general lubrication, how else can you determine if the spring is ok? I generally give them a bit of oil or spray grease every so often, same with door hinges and catches and anything else that moves/pivots is a hinge.

Check that the spring isn't rusted to the retaining cap or broken, and that there isn't any crap caught in it.


The pin needs to be straight, reasonably clean, greased and burr free where it slots into the latch. They usually screw in or out to provide the bonnet closed height adjustment, so if the car has been damaged at the grill/headlight height that might be necessary.


It only takes minor faults with any of these to make the whole assembly reluctant to release.

Funnily enough there is a roundish dent on the front of the slam panel, just left of the catch area it's been there since I had it so don't know what caused it, and if it's caused any mis-alignment issue. Will give the spring and pin a closer inspection as well see how they look.

[Doctor Gollum]

Almost certainly pushed back then. How much depends on the original impact.

The fact you have to force the bonnet, however slightly confirms that things are out of whack.

[grifter]

Almost certainly pushed back then. How much depends on the original impact.

The fact you have to force the bonnet, however slightly confirms that things are out of whack.

Certainly sounds plausible, given the elite has no issues with bonnet and CD has even after fine adjustments and lubricating everything. Maybe do a couple of measurements between the cars see if anything different.

[Doctor Gollum]

The upper cross member is three spot welds onto the inboard top lip of the chassis rail, six as an end cap to the inner wing top structure and 11 more to the edge of the inner wing panel below the headlight aperture. Doesn't take much to disturb it.