Bonnet Advice.

[CraigW]

This maybe a thing with these cars, if it is i will add it to the 'You know you have' thread.

My bonnet doesnt sit properly. It is fully closed but it sits higher at one side than the other. It is alright up the sides it is just at the front.

On the drivers side the bonnet sits on top of the headlight, as you get towards the passenger side the gap between the bonnet and grille gets gradually bigger. At the passenger side it has a gar between the top of the headlight and the bonnet, you can get your fingers 'just' in the gap.

Is this normal or does the bonnet and/or bonnet catch need re-aligned?

If re-aligned, any advice for doing it and getting it bang on?

Cheers.

P.S Its one of these small things thats annoyed me since i got the car.

 

[Boi Ninja]

ive got this too funnily enough mate, ive been told it can be re-aligned but not how to re-align it.

 

[CraigW]

ive got this too funnily enough mate, ive been told it can be re-aligned but not how to re-align it.

I know it aint caused by accident damage because my car is hpi clear and that.

It tells you in the haynes manual how to do it but i just wondered if anyone had any advice for doing it and if it was a common thing or not on these cars.

 

[Fl@pper]

may sound really daft but have you got bonnet lifters on it ?

 

[Boi Ninja]

nope

 

[CraigW]

nope

same as he said, no bonnet lifters on mine either.

 

[Boi Ninja]

its been said before though, quite a few of the mk2s have this problem mate.

 

[ibiza_95]

undo the bolts holding it on at the back and try and just jiggle the bonnet (technical term) and bolt it back up until it lines up better

 

[gregclarks]

There is also rubber bump stops on the slam panel that wind in and out - maybee they could be used to help level it off. near the headlights about the size pf a pound coin...?

 

[CraigW]

There is also rubber bump stops on the slam panel that wind in and out - maybee they could be used to help level it off. near the headlights about the size pf a pound coin...?

I took the one on the passenger side of the slam panel off to see if it would drop the bonnet slightly but it didnt work. I think i will try winding the one on the drivers side up alittle to see if it will lift the bonnet.

 

[Wallis22]

Just loosen up the bonnet hinges, line it up (and tighten finger tight) check the fit, and tighten up the nuts, or try again if it's still not straight.

If you loosen the nuts that secure the bonnet to the hinges, re-align and tighten them, and that doesn't work; try loosening the nuts that secure the hinges to the front wing, re-align and tighten. It takes a bit of playing around but is fairly easy to align if the wing, bonnet and bumper/ grille ect... are all straight.

Also, just because the car isn't recorded doesn't mean it hasn't been in an accident. Mines hpi clear but it's been in an accident. (I only had third party insurance so as there wasn't a claim on it it's not recorded...) Sadly, chances are it has been in an accident though because the bonnet has been removed, either that or a couple of nuts have come loose, but that's highly unlikely.

Personally i don't think the rubber stops will align the bonnet for you. Might be wrong though...

 

[CraigW]

Also, just because the car isn't recorded doesn't mean it hasn't been in an accident. Mines hpi clear but it's been in an accident. (I only had third party insurance so as there wasn't a claim on it it's not recorded...) Sadly, chances are it has been in an accident though because the bonnet has been removed, either that or a couple of nuts have come loose, but that's highly unlikely.

I cant really see my car being in an accident in the past. Im the third owner and the previous 2 were old people so i cant see it. It doesn't look like it has either as all the panels etc are the same colour and dont look like they have been resprayed.

The owner before me traded the car in with a full tank of fuel so when i bought it i didnt have to fill it up for 3 weeks!!