Bonnet catch not working - Help please!
Discussion
Thanks a lot guys. Goa'uld u got the best manual. . Since I spend lots of time on the beach kitesurfing, my lock was full of sand and rust. In the garage had been told I need a new lock.. After turning the lock upside down cleaning and spraying lots of wd40 (almost washing it in it ).. . To be short my lock works better than before, nice and easy.
culabula said:
Thanks a lot guys. Goa'uld u got the best manual. . Since I spend lots of time on the beach kitesurfing, my lock was full of sand and rust. In the garage had been told I need a new lock.. After turning the lock upside down cleaning and spraying lots of wd40 (almost washing it in it ).. . To be short my lock works better than before, nice and easy.
Make sure you get some decent grease now and grease it up, or the same will happen again.That's what happened to me.
Think I've finally solved this one and I'm pleased to say, it's easier than you'd think.
I'm also working away and use a mk 5, 2004 Golf as my daily. I've got limited tools here and today discovered than I couldn't close the bonnet. No amount of wiggling, gentle shutting, slamming or jumping up and down was going to latch the bonnet shut.
The problem felt like the bonnet was bottoming out before the latch could engage properly. I poked the latch down with a screwdriver to see if it was a build up of crap that was preventing the lever from locking in the closed position. Whilst it is very dirty, the lever would lock in the closed position and could be released using the lever in the foot well. If you can also pass this test, read on.
The latching mechanism appears to drop slightly, meaning that the bonnet is bottoming out before the latch can engage properly. Simply remove the two star-drive screws and 2 x central clips holding the grill in place as explained above (a flat head screwdriver of the correct size can be used if you're extremely careful as I didn't have the star-drive bit either). Gently remove the grill by lifting upwards, ensuring that you do not damage the lower clips.
You should now see the 3 x star-drive screws securing the mechanism. Loosen these and you'll see that the mechanism can wobble around lots. This is the problem as it means the mechanism can drop too low. Lift the mechanism as high as you can and tighten the 3 x star-drive bolts to secure it.
Try closing the bonnet before you re-fit the grill to ensure that this has cured the problem. Gentle closing of the bonnet is advisable. If successful, refit the grill carefully and secure with the 2 x previously removed star-drive screws.
Please note that this is for guideline purposes only and users should proceed at their own risk.
Good luck
I'm also working away and use a mk 5, 2004 Golf as my daily. I've got limited tools here and today discovered than I couldn't close the bonnet. No amount of wiggling, gentle shutting, slamming or jumping up and down was going to latch the bonnet shut.
The problem felt like the bonnet was bottoming out before the latch could engage properly. I poked the latch down with a screwdriver to see if it was a build up of crap that was preventing the lever from locking in the closed position. Whilst it is very dirty, the lever would lock in the closed position and could be released using the lever in the foot well. If you can also pass this test, read on.
The latching mechanism appears to drop slightly, meaning that the bonnet is bottoming out before the latch can engage properly. Simply remove the two star-drive screws and 2 x central clips holding the grill in place as explained above (a flat head screwdriver of the correct size can be used if you're extremely careful as I didn't have the star-drive bit either). Gently remove the grill by lifting upwards, ensuring that you do not damage the lower clips.
You should now see the 3 x star-drive screws securing the mechanism. Loosen these and you'll see that the mechanism can wobble around lots. This is the problem as it means the mechanism can drop too low. Lift the mechanism as high as you can and tighten the 3 x star-drive bolts to secure it.
Try closing the bonnet before you re-fit the grill to ensure that this has cured the problem. Gentle closing of the bonnet is advisable. If successful, refit the grill carefully and secure with the 2 x previously removed star-drive screws.
Please note that this is for guideline purposes only and users should proceed at their own risk.
Good luck
Goa'uld said:
(cut)
Edited by Goa'uld on Wednesday 19th May 11:39
Thank you Goa'uld for your excellent post. My wife dragged me out of bed this morning at 7.30 on my day off to fix this exact same problem. Sent her to work in my car and just spent the last 3 happy hours up to my elbows in grease. Fixed it though and no replacement parts needed, just a petrol soak and re-greasing. Getting the pull cable back in place was a bit fiddly so anyone else who tries this after me make sure you take a good look (or photo) of which way round it goes so you can put it back correctly.
Thank the lord for folks like Goa'uld....a first class person in every respect....a clear and accurate soloution to a really problematic fault....especially as on my MK V Golf the wipers are disabled when the bonnet catch is on the fritzz!!
Now fully greased up...... should see me out.....
well done Goa'uld....well done !!
Now fully greased up...... should see me out.....
well done Goa'uld....well done !!
Lairdsman said:
Thank the lord for folks like Goa'uld....a first class person in every respect....a clear and accurate soloution to a really problematic fault....especially as on my MK V Golf the wipers are disabled when the bonnet catch is on the fritzz!!
Now fully greased up...... should see me out.....
well done Goa'uld....well done !!
Nice thread resurrection. My Golf is still going strong in the bonnet catch department all these years later.Now fully greased up...... should see me out.....
well done Goa'uld....well done !!
And welcome to PH.
Hi guys,
Having read this thread I am too going to attempt removing and cleaning my bonnet latch.
It will be the first bit of DIY I've ever done on my car.
I just wanted to asked if there is anything I should be prepped with other than the tools to get the grill off and a shed load of WD40 and a rag?
Thanks in advance!
Having read this thread I am too going to attempt removing and cleaning my bonnet latch.
It will be the first bit of DIY I've ever done on my car.
I just wanted to asked if there is anything I should be prepped with other than the tools to get the grill off and a shed load of WD40 and a rag?
Thanks in advance!
VictorA said:
Hi guys,
Having read this thread I am too going to attempt removing and cleaning my bonnet latch.
It will be the first bit of DIY I've ever done on my car.
I just wanted to asked if there is anything I should be prepped with other than the tools to get the grill off and a shed load of WD40 and a rag?
Thanks in advance!
Welcome to PH!Having read this thread I am too going to attempt removing and cleaning my bonnet latch.
It will be the first bit of DIY I've ever done on my car.
I just wanted to asked if there is anything I should be prepped with other than the tools to get the grill off and a shed load of WD40 and a rag?
Thanks in advance!
Doesn't sound like you'll need much else, if you're a bit unsure then take an iPad or something with you and prop it up somewhere you can either read Goa'uld or bjcressey's helpful instructions, or watch a YouTube video showing what to do (there's bound to be one). If you get stuck us friendly folks on PH are always happy to
Have you got a backup car you can use? Don't try it on a Sunday afternoon, do it on Saturday morning first thing then if you need a tool etc you've got time to find, purchase and abandon the attempt before all the shops shut.
To be honest if the catches are still £23 I'd just buy a new one and be done with it. Grease the fk out of it and fit.
To be honest if the catches are still £23 I'd just buy a new one and be done with it. Grease the fk out of it and fit.
I'm going through this right now - first the bonnet wouldn't open, so I got around that by removing the VW badge and removing the long torx screws for the lock mechanism. This allowed me some wiggle room to move the bonnet up and down, which evenutally unseized something.
Now the bonnet no longer catches the latch! The mechanism is in the same place (height) as it was when I started taking things apart.
I think the release cable is stuck in the release position but I can't see what I need to do.
Any advice PHers?
Thanks
(I have ordered a new mechanism too)
Now the bonnet no longer catches the latch! The mechanism is in the same place (height) as it was when I started taking things apart.
I think the release cable is stuck in the release position but I can't see what I need to do.
Any advice PHers?
Thanks
(I have ordered a new mechanism too)
22/03/19 Literally just happened me as i was putting in oil. Bonnet would not close for the life of me. Tried WD40 etc. still would not close, so i tried some brute force and ignorance...nope. What i did try and worked is...try wiggling the lever back and forth as when you pull the lever there is loads of play in the lever so gently pull lever and push it back untill you fell the spring in the lever pull back into normal position. Then close bonnet by pushing down hard and fast. DO NOT DROP FROM HEIGHT. Next time then you need to pull bonnet lever pull it slowly untill you hear pop
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