All Things Mk5 > How to Guides / Troubleshooting

bonnet wont shut

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Roeffus:
If anyone has a bonnet that wont open/shuts/disbehaves/doesn't meet your expectations, here is my experience:
When i brought my car the dealer couldn't shut the bonnet, and used a good amount of WD-40 to solve the problem. Later it happened to me as well (just when i was show casing my new car to my colleagues... They had a good laugh :signLOL:). When i inspected the bonnet release mechanism (from now on "lock"), i found out that was quite corroded. I used graphite powder to clean the surfaces (add graphite close lock open lock, add graphite, enz) until it was smooth. later that week i was unable to open the bonnet. I finally got it open when one person pulled the handle and another one pulled hard on the bonnet. I found out that the lock was corroded again, so i ordered a new one (i also bought a new gas strut since the bonnet would hit my head at every gust of wind :rolleye:). Before i put the new lock in i used silicon spray to protect all moving surfaces (in other words i socked it because there was no grease in it) When i replaced the lock i saw that the spring for the popper had come out of it's locating hole (lower spring you can only check this when you take the lock out). We tried to put it back in but were unable to do so.

Long story short :laugh:
Before removing the grill try pulling the release handle normally and hard on the bonnet (yes this is a two person job :grin:).
If your bonnet release mechanism is corroded, you need (in my experience) a new one since cleaning it is not a long lasting solution.
And in my humble opinion WD-40 on a corroded lock does not work (WD-40 fanboys: repeat humble opinion) since this will not clean the surface from a amount of corrosion that would stop the springs from working.

muff1991:
my mate had the same issue.. couldn't close the bonnet at all, we sprayed it, tried pushing it down trying not to crease the bonnet.. we was slamming it hoping the front bumper wouldn't fall off etc.

eventually, I decided to pull the boonet release handle in the footwell a "tad" harder.. and hey presto it shut first time effortlessly. so a good spray up in the cable and working the handle in and out.. it has been fine ever since!

I also had an issue with mine, where the bonnet lever to lift open the bonnet wasn't stiff and the bonnet wasn't opening, that needed a gooood clean/spray too.. and now its smooth as!

Octoparrot:
I had the same problem with mine and in the end I had to replace the bonnet locking mechanism, not a hard job to do and it's been fine ever since. :happy2:

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