Purpose of DB7 Hood Safety Latch

[Zardoz]

Is the hood safety latch on the 97-98 DB7 there to help keep the hood secure while driving or to keep unwanted hands out? A couple of times it's bitten me or been very hot under there when I've had to open the hood. Seems a poor design and I'm thinking of removing it.

[Magic919]

Maybe you'd prefer to have a bonnet on your head.

[NigelStn]

I have always wondered why there is a need for a bonnet safety catch on the DB7 as even if the bonnet pops open it won't go anywhere.

[Magic919]

Probably to keep the US market happy. Does seem a bit excessive on some cars.

[Zardoz]

Magic919 said:

Probably to keep the US market happy. Does seem a bit excessive on some cars.

So the DB7s built for the UK/European markets don't have it?

[KarlFranz]

I've read of two people on this forum who have had the bonnet, which was not fully latched, fly over 180 degrees and smash the windshield at speed. Must be pretty scary.

[Magic919]

Bit it's unlikely it has ever happened in a DB7. Maybe they had a Clio?

[DB9VolanteDriver]

NigelStn said:

I have always wondered why there is a need for a bonnet safety catch on the DB7 as even if the bonnet pops open it won't go anywhere.

The bonnet is on pressurized struts, so w/o a safety catch and depending on speed, it may rise to a height sufficient to block the driver's view...not a good outcome. It won't damage anything, of course, being front hinged, but the potential for view blocking would dictate having a catch.

[Zardoz]

DB9VolanteDriver said:

The bonnet is on pressurized struts, so w/o a safety catch and depending on speed, it may rise to a height sufficient to block the driver's view...not a good outcome. It won't damage anything, of course, being front hinged, but the potential for view blocking would dictate having a catch.

So the catch is installed on UK/Euro DB7s as well?

[LordBretSinclair]

KarlFranz said:

I've read of two people on this forum who have had the bonnet, which was not fully latched, fly over 180 degrees and smash the windshield at speed. Must be pretty scary.

How does this happen???

The 7 bonnet is hinged from the front.

[StephenP]

Zardoz said:

So the catch is installed on UK/Euro DB7s as well?

My 2001 UK-spec DB7VV has the secondary catch on the trailing edge of the bonnet, assuming that is what we were taking about?

[Zardoz]

StephenP said:

My 2001 UK-spec DB7VV has the secondary catch on the trailing edge of the bonnet, assuming that is what we were taking about?

Yes, it is. Thanks for the confirmation, perhaps I will keep mine!

[LordBretSinclair]

Sorry for the rubbish pic but this shows the position of the catch on a British spec DB7 (RHD).

Is a US spec catch on the other side??

[KarlFranz]

LordBretSinclair said:

How does this happen???

The 7 bonnet is hinged from the front.

I didn't say it was on a DB7. One was a DB9 and the other a Vantage.

[LordBretSinclair]

We are discussing DB7s though, might have helped if you said what you meant.

There again the proper term is a bonnet safety catch.

Two nations divided by a common language

[Zardoz]

LordBretSinclair said:

Two nations divided by a common language

Yes, the Hood Latchers vs the Bonnet Catchers!
Rugby anyone?

[DB9VolanteDriver]

LordBretSinclair said:

Sorry for the rubbish pic but this shows the position of the catch on a British spec DB7 (RHD).

Is a US spec catch on the other side??

Yes

[NigelStn]

DB9VolanteDriver said:

The bonnet is on pressurized struts, so w/o a safety catch and depending on speed, it may rise to a height sufficient to block the driver's view...not a good outcome. It won't damage anything, of course, being front hinged, but the potential for view blocking would dictate having a catch.

Ah I understand now, but for the struts to raise the bonnet from the near flat position would need incredibly powerful struts. My struts do not have much effect until the bonnet is around 45deg

[DB9VolanteDriver]

NigelStn said:

DB9VolanteDriver said:

The bonnet is on pressurized struts, so w/o a safety catch and depending on speed, it may rise to a height sufficient to block the driver's view...not a good outcome. It won't damage anything, of course, being front hinged, but the potential for view blocking would dictate having a catch.

Ah I understand now, but for the struts to raise the bonnet from the near flat position would need incredibly powerful struts. My struts do not have much effect until the bonnet is around 45deg

The bonnet will rise due to air pressure from the engine bay. The question is at what height will it stop rising. You've got aerodynamic pressures on both sides plus the pressurized struts. If you disengage the latch with tape, you can experiment and tell us exactly what happens at various speeds...