Clio bonnet catch failure again

Clio bonnet catch failure again

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Discussion

nigel_bytes

Original Poster:

557 posts

237 months

Thursday 12th April 2012
quotequote all
A WOMAN cheated death when her car bonnet flipped up on a busy motorway.

Terrified Jessica Taylor, 23, was hospitalised after her Renault Clio car spun out of control on the M1.

The Huddersfield driver’s bonnet flipped open as she drove home from visiting her boyfriend in London, smashing the windscreen and completely blocking her view of the road.

The car span across the four lane motorway and came to a halt pointing the wrong way with a lorry bearing down on her.

The lorry managed to stop in time, but Jessica clipped at least one other car as she veered out of control at 9pm last Friday.



Read More http://www.examiner.co.uk/news/local-west-yorkshir...

pulliptears

3,363 posts

167 months

Thursday 12th April 2012
quotequote all
These were recalled yes, and general advice was to keep the catch well greased and check it regularly. I have a '99 Clio and checking the catch is part of my weekly routine of oil,water and tyre pressures.

Doesn't worry me I have to say, I'd be interested to know when Jessica Taylor last did a routine check on her bonnet catch.

John145

2,449 posts

157 months

Thursday 12th April 2012
quotequote all
I'd be more interested in how the bonnet coming up can result in a spin...

StottyZr

6,860 posts

164 months

Thursday 12th April 2012
quotequote all
She cheated death by swerving when her bonnet came up? Sometimes I do wonder.

covboy

2,577 posts

175 months

Thursday 12th April 2012
quotequote all
Got to be a difficult situation

Not sure what my reaction would be in those circumstances.

I’ve been hit by flying debris on the motorway (a sheet of corrugated steel flew off the back of a pickup) and my first reaction was to duck – and I could see that coming!

barker22

1,037 posts

168 months

Thursday 12th April 2012
quotequote all
She obviously panicked and stamped on the brakes as would many. If she had even a small amount of steering input on, then the tail end on a clio goes very easily.
I had this bonnet scare about 2 months ago on my 182. I had shut the bonnet or so I thought, the catch had obviously stuck open. Luckily I noticed it not too long after but not before a short 5 mile journey on some 30, 40mph roads though. Its such a simple thing to overlook maintaining plus mine has already been in for the recall a few years ago. Every time the bonnets up now it gets a good greasing.

Edited by barker22 on Thursday 12th April 14:35

pulliptears

3,363 posts

167 months

Thursday 12th April 2012
quotequote all
I'd heard about the bonnet catch issues before the recall so kept mine greased from then, took it into the garage as part of the recall mainly to get the stamp in the service book to say it had been done.
Mechanic appears, takes out a rag, wipes off all the grease from the catch, fiddles with it a bit then says thats it. Book stamped and on my way.

Had to go home and regrease the bloody thing!!

Edited by pulliptears on Thursday 12th April 14:46

rumpelstiltskin

2,805 posts

260 months

Thursday 12th April 2012
quotequote all
John145 said:
I'd be more interested in how the bonnet coming up can result in a spin...
You've obviously never had it happen to you?Misses had this happen at 60mph and it smashed the windsceen and put rather a large v shape in the roof.God only knows what the racket was like.Good on you if you would just casually pull over and not panic in the least(ofcourse the bonnet stops you from seeing your calm pull over place at 60mph))

wildcat45

8,077 posts

190 months

Thursday 12th April 2012
quotequote all
Some cars used to have bonnets that opened forward against any airflow. BMW Jag, Rolls, Bentley, Rover SD1 Volvo 300s, the original Mazda 323 are ones I can think of from the top of my head.

Did the rules change? Crash protection, pedestran protection, ease of access?

A forward opening bonnet seems far safer.

Matt106

383 posts

165 months

Thursday 12th April 2012
quotequote all
Both my Clio's have had the recall and replacement bonnet catch. Renault sent letters out to all registered owners a few years ago now however I think it was just the one letter and no follow up.

crocodile tears

755 posts

147 months

Thursday 12th April 2012
quotequote all
anyone else pick up on this:
woman said:
“I was going 70 in the fast lane and the bonnet just flipped up and smashed the whole windscreen."
hehe

matrix

2 posts

252 months

Monday 23rd April 2012
quotequote all
Happened to me yesterday at 70 mph in the middle lane I didn't crash just got covered in sunroof glass rolleyes

But then I am an old fart wink


Someone elses car and it looks like the recall missed this one looking at the catch eek

jason s4

16,810 posts

171 months

Monday 23rd April 2012
quotequote all
matrix
1 posts
107 months


^^^^Top lurking!!^^^

clap

AlexiusG55

655 posts

157 months

Monday 23rd April 2012
quotequote all
wildcat45 said:
Some cars used to have bonnets that opened forward against any airflow. BMW Jag, Rolls, Bentley, Rover SD1 Volvo 300s, the original Mazda 323 are ones I can think of from the top of my head.

Did the rules change? Crash protection, pedestran protection, ease of access?

A forward opening bonnet seems far safer.
The Volvo 444/544 also has a bonnet that opens forward, but the Amazon doesn't. So I don't think it's a general Volvo thing, and the 300 is a DAF not a Volvo anyway.

lyonspride

2,978 posts

156 months

Monday 23rd April 2012
quotequote all
Thing with though, is it's scary how often I see people driving about with the bonnet not shut properly..... How do these people not f*cking notice??????????


With the Clio, I do wonder if this problem ever occurs in France?

Edited by lyonspride on Monday 23 April 10:03

SeanyD

3,377 posts

201 months

Monday 23rd April 2012
quotequote all
Pretty much exact same thing happened to my missus, 70mph on the A1 and bonnet popped, smashing the windscreen into her face, luckily a patrol car was not far behind and helped he safely off the road and escorted her home. Car had just been picked up from a service at a renault dealer too.

To say I kicked off with the dealer would be a slight understatement.

Alx323

421 posts

204 months

Monday 23rd April 2012
quotequote all
wildcat45 said:
Some cars used to have bonnets that opened forward against any airflow. BMW Jag, Rolls, Bentley, Rover SD1 Volvo 300s, the original Mazda 323 are ones I can think of from the top of my head.

Did the rules change? Crash protection, pedestran protection, ease of access?

A forward opening bonnet seems far safer.
The mk1 Clio has a forward opening bonnet. I think they look cooler. Don't know why.

simoid

19,772 posts

159 months

Monday 23rd April 2012
quotequote all
lyonspride said:
With the Clio, I do wonder if this problem ever occurs in France?

Edited by lyonspride on Monday 23 April 10:03
Why? confused

jazzyjeff

3,652 posts

260 months

Monday 23rd April 2012
quotequote all
crocodile tears said:
anyone else pick up on this:
woman said:
“I was going 70 in the fast lane and the bonnet just flipped up and smashed the whole windscreen."
hehe
Even OLMs don't deserve that kind of punishment!

lyonspride

2,978 posts

156 months

Monday 23rd April 2012
quotequote all
simoid said:
lyonspride said:
With the Clio, I do wonder if this problem ever occurs in France?

Edited by lyonspride on Monday 23 April 10:03
Why? confused
Because the French manufacturers don't care what they bodge when they convert their cars to RHD. If they moved the controls, they may have moved the lever for the bonnet too.