Secondary bonnet catch on Clio doesn't work, is it serious

[SlowDarren]

I currently have a Clio hire car and the secondary bonnet catch is not working, so the bonnet doesn't close fully.

Is this serious enough to ask for a replacement car or can I live with it?

I've sprayed a bit of WD40 but no improvement.

Thanks

[The Rotrex Kid]

It’ll be serious if it fails at 70mph on a motorway yes.

Odd one though, never seen one with an issue on the newer cars.

[SlowDarren]

Thank you.

It's Mark IV so I guess that counts as newer.

[GreenV8S]

SlowDarren said:

ask for a replacement car

Ask whom?

If it's bought from a dealer without this being disclosed as a fault, you're probably entitled to get it fixed and I would certaily want it fixed. It may just be a matter of adjustment.

[Pastie Bloater]

OP said hire car.
Also OP that's a failed primary catch, not secondary.
The primary actually latches, the secondary is just a little spring that could easily come open.

[SlowDarren]

Pastie Bloater said:

OP said hire car.
Also OP that's a failed primary catch, not secondary.
The primary actually latches, the secondary is just a little spring that could easily come open.

Thank you. That's worrying.

[InitialDave]

Older clios had a duff secondary catch, as the design was a sliding plastic affair that was basically rubbish.

But anyway, hire car? Take it back.

[GreenV8S]

Pastie Bloater said:

OP said hire car.

I missed that. Definitely needs fixing and the hire company will want to fix it too.

[Pastie Bloater]

Just a thought but have you tried pulling the bonnet release?
The catch could be latched closed but with the bonnet open, stopping you then actually closing the bonnet.

[The Rotrex Kid]

InitialDave said:

Older clios had a duff secondary catch, as the design was a sliding plastic affair that was basically rubbish.

But anyway, hire car? Take it back.

That was Clio 2, Clio 4 hasn’t had that issue.

[InitialDave]

The Rotrex Kid said:

That was Clio 2, Clio 4 hasn’t had that issue.

Yeah, I was just mentioning it in case there was something similar in terms of silly design decisions with later ones.

[SlowDarren]

Pastie Bloater said:

Just a thought but have you tried pulling the bonnet release?
The catch could be latched closed but with the bonnet open, stopping you then actually closing the bonnet.

Yes I have tried thank you. Is the bonnet release supposed to move the "primary" catch?

When the bonnet is open and I pull the bonnet release, I can hear it doing something, but I can't see anything moving.

[SlowDarren]

Pastie Bloater said:

OP said hire car.
Also OP that's a failed primary catch, not secondary.
The primary actually latches, the secondary is just a little spring that could easily come open.

On further examination I think that the primary is latching to an extent, but isn't holding the bonnet down as snugly as it should.