24 replies to this topic

[Danny_California]

My bonnet is not sitting low enough with the grille, how do i go about lowering the front lip? I tweaked the hinges to see if that helped and it did a bit, but not enough, it wont go lower because of the spring. I've attatched a couple pictures of the doo dad that I reckon needs adjusting, can anyone tell me if it is adjustable?

[sonikk4]

Yes its adjustable, use a flat bladed screwdriver and compress the spring by screwing clockwise the slot you can see until you are happy with the gap, its that simple.

Edited by sonikk4, 13 March 2010 - 06:47 PM.

[Danny_California]

Thought that might be the case, the thing wont budge, not even a tiny bit. Any suggestions for freeing it up? It's an mpi bonnet catch aswell by the way, incase that makes a difference.

[lrostoke]

should be a locknut inside the spring, slacken that first

[Pauly]

Be careful you dont have it too tight where you cant open the bonnet . There is a gap usually between the grill and bonnet anyway.

[jayare]

Word of advice - when you are making adjustments like this to the striker, leave the grille off - that way if it wont open on the cable/lever you can get to the inside of it to release it!

JR

[panelbeaterpeter]

Pull the spring back and loosen the locknut at the base of the shaft, and turn the shaft with a screwdriver. If it's a bit tight, try turning it with mole grips. And as above, if take the grille off first in case it gets a bit stuck!

[Danny_California]

Cool, cheers guys I'll have a go tomorrow. That spring is bloody strong though! Gonna be very tricky trying to undo the locknut. This is how the bonnet is now at moment anyway, as you can see there is way too big of a gap, and it's fairly uneven.

[Pooky]

That is a fairly big gap, but in that picture the bonnet looks level with the wings. Are you sure the grille doesn't need to come up a bit? Or maybe the top section attached to the bonnet isn't on right?

[Danny_California]

Well the grille cant go anywhere else, its screwed in where it is. I never thought that it would muck up the allignment with the wings thats a good point. Wonder what to do...
Surely any problems with allining with the wings could be fixed at the hinges though right? So even if its a two step process getting the grille to line up it might work?

[robtheplod]

mines the same gap, but happy with that...

[panelbeaterpeter]

The bonnet does look a little high, usually it sits a little below the wing line, in order for the grille top to line up. To sort out the uneven gap, making sure the hinges are tight and the back of the bonnet is level, twist the front of the bonnet. Do it carefully and slowly til you're happy. Sounds dodgy but it always works if you're careful.

[jack_marshall]

I was also going to suggest a twist of the bonnet to even the gap. I have to do this alot, especially on reproductuon bonnets for modern cars. Its surprising how twisted they come from Taiwan!!

[Danny_California]

Sorry to drag this up again, but I never did figure out how to fix it completely, and it just got swept under the carpet really. I managed to loosen the locknut on the striker, and tightening the shaft made the bonnet come down as expected. I also did the twisting trick and that helped to even it out.

But I'm still not happy with it, it should sit atleast another inch lower down. It got to a point with the adjustment that the bonnet would not shut, but still even with my weight on it I could not get the gap down to what I'd be happy with.
Adjust? Modify? Fail?

[custard]

Danny mines the same and learned to live with it