How can i properly open the bonnet?????????

[acepoole]

I can only open the bonnet on my S3 by approx 1 foot.
I cannot get the car up on ramps because of the ground clearance. I have had my S3 for approx 5months now and have never been able to get in and have a good look. Can anyone help???

[stevegilroy]

What is preventing your bonnet from opening? is it grounding out at the front of is there some other problem?

[Podie]

stick a jack under the front of the car...? Raise it a bit..?

I'm sure shpub or GreenV8S will be able to offer words of wisdom...

[PetrolTed]

Drive it onto a couple of planks?

[spivvy]

PetrolTed said: Drive it onto a couple of planks?

Exactly what i have to do
if you want to get it higher jack from the side on the main chassis not the outriggers and put axle stands under and you can get the bonnet almost vertical

>> Edited by spivvy on Monday 5th May 09:44

[Psychobert]

spivvy said:

PetrolTed said: Drive it onto a couple of planks?

Exactly what i have to do
if you want to get it higher jack from the side on the main chassis not the outriggers and put axle stands under and you can get the bonnet almost vertical

>> Edited by spivvy on Monday 5th May 09:44

Been wondering about that.. Couple of jobs I was thinking of doing, but wasn't sure the bonnet would like to be at that angle, (thinking of stress on the hinges).

[GreenV8S]

How far you can open the bonnet is extremely sensitive to ground clearance. It only needs an inch to make a big difference. This can come from bumps/dips in the ground, saggy/dropped springs, or even distortion in the box section the hinges are mounted on (they do tend to bend over time). The problem could be any of these, or a combination. With the standard ride height, you should be able to open the bonnet far enough to use the stay on level ground with about half an inch clearance under the front edge of the bonnet. If you pick the car up on planks/axle stand/whatever you can open the bonnet a lot further, the main things to be careful of are damaging the front edge of the bonnet on the ground, and the bonnet slamming shut if you don't suppor it in the open position.

Hope this helps,
Peter Humphries (and a green V8S)

[shpub]

stevegilroy said: What is preventing your bonnet from opening? is it grounding out at the front of is there some other problem?

It's got the "optional factory fitted the bonnet in the wrong place along with a lower than normal road height that means the only way to open the bonnet is either to invest in a two post vehicle lift or a couple of planks or jack it up from the side" option. It might have had the after market fitted "bonnet hinge not adjusted correctly" option as well.

You could also be just plain unlucky where the bonnet opening leaves a lot of to be desired. I could ask the question of didn't you open it when you bought the car and why didn't that raise some alarm bells?

Done anything like fitted different suspension/wheels? Could there be a suspension fault here?

Steve
www.tvrbooks.co.uk

[roger brown]

Try what I do. Put the front wheels on a couple of short 1" planks. Perfeckk. I carry them in the boot just in case.