6 replies to this topic

[Neon91]

Help! My 1991 Neon's safety bonnet catch has finally succumbed to rust and dropped off. This leaves it reliant on the centre bonnet catch to hold it down. It seems to hold ok for the moment, but even if I could find a replacement catch, and if it didn't cost more than the car for someone to weld it back on and weld in a new piece on the bit above the grille ( I don't do welding) is there any way I could use external catches or bonnet pins without permanently drilling into the bonnet?

Surely I can't be the first person in the Forum this has ever happened to? A search didn't find any threads though. Suggestions gratefully received!

[Wil_h]

The basic answer is no. You will need to fix something to the bonnet to keep it closed. Bonnet straps like this http://www.minispare...=... BLACK PAIR will be easiest, but probably look a bit naff on an otherwise standard Neon.

Bear in mind that if someone welded you a new catch on, it would most likely damage the paintwork anyway. And as it has rusted off, it seems likely that the bonnet is way past it's best anyway.

[Guess-Works.com]

Buy a new bonnet

[Neon91]

Hmmm ... thanks for the replies. Where would you fix the buckle bit to? I used to have straps on my MGTF replica kit car, but that was a bit different as the bonnet had sides to it, if you see what I mean. I have seen one posted on here with rubber handle thingies going over each front corner of the bonnet. The only rust on the existing bonnet is just on the bracing bit underneath which the hook catch is attached to. Otherwise, it's OK and it would be a bit of a shame to replace the whole thing just for the catch. The question is, will the centre catch hold the bonnet anyway? I think the extra catch is a "safety catch" in case you don't close the bonnet properly ?

[minidaves]

the safety catch as you put it is just that, normal bonnet catches can fail and if they do guess what u damage your car and you dont see where you are going.

best way is the small leather bonnet straps you can get and mount 1 on the front panel and the other part on the bonnet, meaning bonnet should not fly open when driving

dave

[Wil_h]

The problem with the straps, now I think about it, is that they are usually fitted to cars with mk1 bonnets which don't have a lip.

[Neon91]

OK so here's my solution for now. A couple of cheapo rubber handles, fixed on the lip of the bonnet to avoid that problem, with a cunning bracket fixing through the grille to avoid drilling unnecessary holes. Just need to road test to make sure they hold! May need a new bonnet at some stage, as you say! Thanks for all the help everyone.

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