Chim bonnet catch has come unstuck

[simonriley11]

Took my car for an MOT today (it passed) and whilst removing the bonnet stay from the bonnet catch the whole catch unit came unstuck from the inside of the bonnet (I was there and it wasn't the testers fault). Are there any suggestions as to what I might bond it back on with - the very helpful MOT man has lent me a 2 pack plastic metal kit which he finds will bond anything to anything.

[Belle427]

Do you have a picture of which part it is?

[phillpot]

use the stuff he gave you.

[simonriley11]

I don't have a picture of the part but it's a GRP triangular block with tapered sides which carries the bonnet locking pin and the ball for the bonnet prop.

[kris450]

Had exactly the same thing happen a few years ago. Except for me it occurred on a French motorway travelling to Le Mans at 80mph. Lifted the bonnet up around 9 inches... Proper brown trouser moment.

Some standard Araldite is what was recommended and its done the job. Still solid as with no hint of movement.

[simonriley11]

I don't have a picture of the part but it's a GRP triangular block with tapered sides which carries the bonnet locking pin and the ball for the bonnet prop.

[Adrian@]

I presume something like this ..fixed on as OE by Freefix bonding paste (it is a colour changing bonding paste using white hardener so you can work with the product and actually see it curing) any good epoxy theses days. A@



Be sure that if you want the colour unique colour change indicator aspect to go from green to light brown, that you are supplied the white benzol peroxide catalyst paste. Although if you are working on older fibreglass, then using red BPO the colour finish might match the older fibre glass-work better.

Edited by Adrian@ on Friday 10th July 11:12

[simonriley11]

Thanks for all your help - all sorted. To get the moulding back in the correct position whilst the Araldite cured I did a dry fit of the moulding and made a thick cardboard template around 3 sides of the moulding and taped the template to the inside of the bonnet. I then applied the Araldite to both surfaces using a spatula and positioned the moulding on the inside of the bonnet using the template. I had already cut a 75mm diameter (approx) cardboard tube (with capped ends) to length which would act as a prop whilst the Araldite was curing, the tube length was determined by making sure that the tube was at right angles to the bonnet when sitting on the bonnet lock on the scuttle at one end and the moulding at the other. My wife then held the moulding in place whilst I positioned the cardboard tube and then she let go with the bonnet (I then removed the template) held open by the tube and the assembly was left to go off for 24 hours. I also kept a seperate glue sample so I could check it had gone off before I removed the tube.
Sorry - should have taken some pictures but forgot!