Bonnet catch not working - Help please!
Discussion
Long story short: I had to top up the oil on the way to work this morning but now the bonnet on my mk5 Golf won't close.
I have the tools to take the catch out and a can of WD40. I tried a squirt of the good stuff but it still won't close.
Any ideas on what to try next, bearing in mind I'm at work in Bristol and have VERY limited access (read as none) to grease, paraffin, etc?
I need to get back home to Swindon this evening and am not too keen doing so with a bonnet which won't close properly.
Cheers
Pints
I have the tools to take the catch out and a can of WD40. I tried a squirt of the good stuff but it still won't close.
Any ideas on what to try next, bearing in mind I'm at work in Bristol and have VERY limited access (read as none) to grease, paraffin, etc?
I need to get back home to Swindon this evening and am not too keen doing so with a bonnet which won't close properly.
Cheers
Pints
As above, check the bonnet pull isn't still pulled.
I'd also suggest looking at the mechanism for the cable and wiggling it with your fingers or a screwdriver. That may unstick it.
The alfa does this from time to time. A wiggle of the cable fixes it. I must degrease the mechanism at some point.
I'd also suggest looking at the mechanism for the cable and wiggling it with your fingers or a screwdriver. That may unstick it.
The alfa does this from time to time. A wiggle of the cable fixes it. I must degrease the mechanism at some point.
Pints said:
Long story short: I had to top up the oil on the way to work this morning but now the bonnet on my mk5 Golf won't close.
I have the tools to take the catch out and a can of WD40. I tried a squirt of the good stuff but it still won't close.
Any ideas on what to try next, bearing in mind I'm at work in Bristol and have VERY limited access (read as none) to grease, paraffin, etc?
I need to get back home to Swindon this evening and am not too keen doing so with a bonnet which won't close properly.
Cheers
Pints
I think on the mk5 Golf your windscreen wipers/wash won't work with the bonnet not fully closed. I'd be on the phone to main stealer asap bearing in mind your journey.I have the tools to take the catch out and a can of WD40. I tried a squirt of the good stuff but it still won't close.
Any ideas on what to try next, bearing in mind I'm at work in Bristol and have VERY limited access (read as none) to grease, paraffin, etc?
I need to get back home to Swindon this evening and am not too keen doing so with a bonnet which won't close properly.
Cheers
Pints
I think the cable is the issue. I've checked the catch and that's moving, the pull handle is in place (pushed back) so it must be the cable.
I've tried the pushing and dropping and banging of the bonnet but to no avail.
Well at least I know what I'll be doing in my lunch hour.
Cheers for the advice.
I've tried the pushing and dropping and banging of the bonnet but to no avail.
Well at least I know what I'll be doing in my lunch hour.
Cheers for the advice.
Pints said:
I think the cable is the issue. I've checked the catch and that's moving, the pull handle is in place (pushed back) so it must be the cable.
I've tried the pushing and dropping and banging of the bonnet but to no avail.
Well at least I know what I'll be doing in my lunch hour.
Cheers for the advice.
At a guess I'd say a broken strand in the cable is fouling the outer - anywhere you can see the cable, grab it and give it a wobble, also exercise the pull handle every few wiggles. If it works, get a replacement cable before it gives up and leaves you trying to fit your arm up inside from underneath I've tried the pushing and dropping and banging of the bonnet but to no avail.
Well at least I know what I'll be doing in my lunch hour.
Cheers for the advice.
Hi Pints,
I had a similar problem after VW changed my timing belt - they hadn't secured the under tray correctly so after a few trips home to the farm and some motorway driving there was all sorts of fine grit and crap thrown up inside the front of the bumper and into the bottom of the bonnet catch mechanism (which is completely open at the bottom), just enough to clog up the spring which stopped the catch from returning to its original position. This is worth checking as a pal with a GTI also had this issue however his was simply from the spring corroding into a solid mass and also not returning the catch, I sorted his for beer tokens.
The standard Golf, GT and GTI all have pretty much the same sized small mini grill section sitting inbetween the headlights. Get yourself some torx screwbits.
1 - Take out the two screws in RED, then unclip (near the middle) the grill and remove it.
2 - You now have full front on access to the three screw in the YELLOW. Remove these - the left is short and the other two are long.
3 - I used a screw driver held horizontally to lever the mechanism up and out to the left (in the BLUE box) - but go easy on it since the cable and the electronic bonnet closed wires are attached at the bottom left and you don't want to yank them out.
4 - Underneath you'll now see the open area. Check the spring for clogging/corrosion. When mine was clogged the catch/hook at the end of the cable was down at the bottom right corner of the device - it should return up inside it so make sure it's returned before refitting everything.
If it is clogged/corroded then you will only get one go to close the bonnet before having to undo everything again, so make sure everything is refitted and you're happy to close the bonnet. Sounds daft but make sure you lower the bonnet down to nearly closed then push it down firmly, if you let it drop down or do it too lightly it can trip the catch and then you get to start all over again (yes, this is from stupid experience
)
Get a new catch from a scrappy as VW charge a stupid amount for it and it is a pain the backside having to do all that anytime you want to check the oil/add screenwash!
Hope this helps
I had a similar problem after VW changed my timing belt - they hadn't secured the under tray correctly so after a few trips home to the farm and some motorway driving there was all sorts of fine grit and crap thrown up inside the front of the bumper and into the bottom of the bonnet catch mechanism (which is completely open at the bottom), just enough to clog up the spring which stopped the catch from returning to its original position. This is worth checking as a pal with a GTI also had this issue however his was simply from the spring corroding into a solid mass and also not returning the catch, I sorted his for beer tokens.
The standard Golf, GT and GTI all have pretty much the same sized small mini grill section sitting inbetween the headlights. Get yourself some torx screwbits.
1 - Take out the two screws in RED, then unclip (near the middle) the grill and remove it.
2 - You now have full front on access to the three screw in the YELLOW. Remove these - the left is short and the other two are long.
3 - I used a screw driver held horizontally to lever the mechanism up and out to the left (in the BLUE box) - but go easy on it since the cable and the electronic bonnet closed wires are attached at the bottom left and you don't want to yank them out.
4 - Underneath you'll now see the open area. Check the spring for clogging/corrosion. When mine was clogged the catch/hook at the end of the cable was down at the bottom right corner of the device - it should return up inside it so make sure it's returned before refitting everything.
If it is clogged/corroded then you will only get one go to close the bonnet before having to undo everything again, so make sure everything is refitted and you're happy to close the bonnet. Sounds daft but make sure you lower the bonnet down to nearly closed then push it down firmly, if you let it drop down or do it too lightly it can trip the catch and then you get to start all over again (yes, this is from stupid experience
)Get a new catch from a scrappy as VW charge a stupid amount for it and it is a pain the backside having to do all that anytime you want to check the oil/add screenwash!
Hope this helps
- Edited to add that's not my car, and if like me this happens to you when you're away from your tools, I found that a standard size allen key (whatever size you get for desk chairs etc) worked for the yellow screws and I had a screwdriver that JUST fitted the red screw however I was really carefull not to mess up the screws.
Edited by Goa'uld on Wednesday 19th May 11:39
^^^
Excellent info. Thanks.
I've had to loosen the mechanism before (just prior to a PH run!) so wasn't expecting it to be the same thing since I'd given it a good clean then but, as you say, the crap that lands up in there is quite shocking.
It's definitely the spring mechanism which has corroded and is heavily corroded. I've managed to man-handle it back into place but I'll probably need to get a new one. VW are asking £23.67 which doesn't sound too bad. I don't know of a scrapyard near me so I'll probably just stump up the £20-odd.
I'm also thinking of letting it soak in a bowl of paraffin and then re-greasing it to see if that brings it back to its former glory.
Excellent info. Thanks.
I've had to loosen the mechanism before (just prior to a PH run!) so wasn't expecting it to be the same thing since I'd given it a good clean then but, as you say, the crap that lands up in there is quite shocking.
It's definitely the spring mechanism which has corroded and is heavily corroded. I've managed to man-handle it back into place but I'll probably need to get a new one. VW are asking £23.67 which doesn't sound too bad. I don't know of a scrapyard near me so I'll probably just stump up the £20-odd.
I'm also thinking of letting it soak in a bowl of paraffin and then re-greasing it to see if that brings it back to its former glory.
No probs - i was quoted approx £45 at the time and also wanted to fit it for more £. My local dealership seem to price things by leaning on a calculator with their elbow and whatever number they end up with is the selling price! Although there is one good guy there that has me down as a trade customer to get extra discount, I think he invented a taxi company for me or something!
Pints said:
Long story short: I had to top up the oil on the way to work this morning but now the bonnet on my mk5 Golf won't close.
I have the tools to take the catch out and a can of WD40. I tried a squirt of the good stuff but it still won't close.
Any ideas on what to try next, bearing in mind I'm at work in Bristol and have VERY limited access (read as none) to grease, paraffin, etc?
I need to get back home to Swindon this evening and am not too keen doing so with a bonnet which won't close properly.
Cheers
Pints
I have the tools to take the catch out and a can of WD40. I tried a squirt of the good stuff but it still won't close.
Any ideas on what to try next, bearing in mind I'm at work in Bristol and have VERY limited access (read as none) to grease, paraffin, etc?
I need to get back home to Swindon this evening and am not too keen doing so with a bonnet which won't close properly.
Cheers
Pints
Pints said:
Long story short: I had to top up the oil on the way to work this morning but now the bonnet on my mk5 Golf won't close.
I have the tools to take the catch out and a can of WD40. I tried a squirt of the good stuff but it still won't close.
Any ideas on what to try next, bearing in mind I'm at work in Bristol and have VERY limited access (read as none) to grease, paraffin, etc?
I need to get back home to Swindon this evening and am not too keen doing so with a bonnet which won't close properly.
Cheers
Pints
I had exact same problem i also tried soaking with wd 40 but still wouldnt close i then removed grill by removing two torque screws then disconect cable above drivers side headlight then remove three torgue screws on latch prised latch out without disconecting turned upside down then could see rusted parts which i couldnt see before sprayed with wd 40 then put back together and problem solved hope this solves your problem. I have the tools to take the catch out and a can of WD40. I tried a squirt of the good stuff but it still won't close.
Any ideas on what to try next, bearing in mind I'm at work in Bristol and have VERY limited access (read as none) to grease, paraffin, etc?
I need to get back home to Swindon this evening and am not too keen doing so with a bonnet which won't close properly.
Cheers
Pints
It's a common problem. They locks are crap and they get rusty as hell so seize. I'd advise new lock (with microswitch) and the part of the cable that's attaches to the lock itself (it's in 2 peices) Oha nd 2 cable ties to secure the little "joint" box on the cable as if that comes apart you're screwed!
Edited by Rich_W on Friday 3rd June 00:18
Gassing Station | Home Mechanics | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff