car bonnet not closing properly

ktcoil

Hi I went to do my regular top up on water in my window wash and when closing the bonnet it wont close down properly, it goes down more on one side than the other, managed to close it but its not linked up properly, the bonnet has always been quite stiff and we have sprayed wd40 in when we noticed it was stiff when purchased but never eased up.


we have an mot due on Saturday and when speaking with a guarage they cant look till Monday, my mot is Saturday with kwick fit which I have bought online aready.

TadleyBaggie

I doubt WD40 was ever going to help, the "WD" stands for water displacement, it has no lubricating properties. So unless the issue was due to water in the mechanism, it was a non starter.

Aylesbury_Duck

ktcoil wrote: »

Hi I went to do my regular top up on water in my window wash and when closing the bonnet it wont close down properly, it goes down more on one side than the other, managed to close it but its not linked up properly, the bonnet has always been quite stiff and we have sprayed wd40 in when we noticed it was stiff when purchased but never eased up.


we have an mot due on Saturday and when speaking with a guarage they cant look till Monday, my mot is Saturday with kwick fit which I have bought online aready.

As TadleyBaggie says, WD40 was the wrong product to use.

Cancel that MOT and get a reputable garage to carry it out at the same time they check the bonnet.

caprikid1

Please read the product spec for WD40 before continuing to trot out the same mis information around this product. Yes it does have water displacing properties but it is also a lubricant and penetrating oil.


It's not perfect for the stiff hinges but its not a bad start.


https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WD-40

AdrianC

caprikid1 wrote: »

Please read the product spec for WD40 before continuing to trot out the same mis information around this product. Yes it does have water displacing properties but it is also a lubricant and penetrating oil.

They certainly sell it as one - but it's a very, very poor one.

If the bonnet's closing physically and latching, but is sitting higher on one side than the other, I'd be checking that there's nothing been left in the inner wing gulleys or on the slam panel. Anything like the oil cap...

If one hinge was seizing, it'd be noticeable as you open and close the bonnet. Few cars have paired latches either side of the bonnet.

daveyjp

Apply plenty of grease to the bonnet latch and mechanism. Its exposed to water whenever it rains and can quickly rust as the paint is rubbed off, so it needs protecting.

Back in the day such jobs were all part of a service, along with copper greasing battery terminals, but now its DIY.

ktcoil

Hi Sorry where would I buy this grease from and do you know exactly what its called? can it be picked up in a supermarket or is it maybe Halfords?


thanks

neilmcl

Yes, Halfords or most DIY centres will sell you either multi-purpose, lithium or silicone grease products.

daveyjp

Any multi purpose grease will do.

http://www.wilko.com/car-care-products/wilko-multi-purpose-grease-tub-500g/invt/0039759

ktcoil

Thanks


If It is the bonnet and it wont fully open will the fail my mot or will they not go ahead with the mot?

AdrianC

If the bonnet won't open sufficiently to properly do all the checks, the test will be abandoned.

If the bonnet isn't opening fully, can it be propped securely?
If it can't be propped securely, how are you doing your weekly fluid level checks...?