22 replies to this topic

[davey123a]

i am learning to drive and the instructor and DVD tell me to hold the bonnet 6 inches above the catch and drop it. i thought that it would be better to rest it on the catch and then push down, there won't be any risk of a lump coming on the bonnet where the catch hits it. what do you do and am i just being silly?

[Robbie]

i am learning to drive and the instructor and DVD tell me to hold the bonnet 6 inches above the catch and drop it. i thought that it would be better to rest it on the catch and then push down, there won't be any risk of a lump coming on the bonnet where the catch hits it. what do you do and am i just being silly?

Well this was the way I was taught, I think you're more guaranteed to close it properly this way.

[Tom Sanderson]

Any other car i would say drop it from around 6 inches, but the mini bonnet is so light you stand little chance of the catch engaging properly so i always push mine down. On the ridge mind so as not to dent it

[amarcd]

With my fibreglass bonnet you have to push it down as there isn't enought weight to just drop it on the catch. And get the strap on it or it just flexes and jumps up on the "good" roads over here and those cattle grids!

[tadleysimon]

clubby bonnets are heavier. i drop it

[Pooky]

I take it down slowly, pushing the sprung safety catch in so it doesn't scratch the paint then push it shut

Edited by Pooky, 06 June 2010 - 07:29 PM.

[Carlzilla]

just drop it from 8 inches, or sometimes lower it down and push it by the badge

[afro bob]

I take it down slowly, pushing the sprung safety catch in so it doesn't scratch the paint then push it shut

that how its done where i come from lol

[AVV IT]

Interesting...... I'd say it very much depends on the individual car and the manufacturers instructions. Following the Renault Clio II "bonnet flying up whilst driving" scandal, Renault issued an inspection recall on every Clio II, which also involved a rather patronising demonstration of "how to close the bonnet properly" by your local renault dealer.

I recall specificaly being told never to drop the bonnet from any height as this was the main reason for the bonnet catch fatigue & failure. The Renault Clio II bonnet catch is however a plastic peice of french cr*p, a completely different technique would probably be appropriate on a more robust mechanism like that on the classic mini!! In short DSA driving instructors shouldnt generalise about these things!!

[Mayfair_Maniac]

Well I Always Catch It And Push It Down I Dont Know The Correct Way But Does It Really Matter

Mike

[Mike92]

As others have said, I push the catch in, then push the bonnet down, seems the best way in my opinion as it won't scratch the paint and won't scratch the catch.

But when I was learning to drive not long ago with the new Fiat 500, you drop it from about 8 inches or something.

Edited by PoweRMikE, 06 June 2010 - 08:16 PM.

[mini93]

id be a bit stupid if i tried dropping the bonnet on my peugeot because the thing would be raise back up, its fitted with gas struts.

on my mini i have to fit it, ensure all the posts are in the slits and close my aerocatchs

[kez_19]

on all cars i have ever worked on i have always dropped them i feel that pushing them shut CAN cause a dent in the bonnet and i have never wanted that to happen so i always drop them

michael

[j0-rdan]

Well I have to pull mine to the right and then push to close!

[ste88]

i'm sure the catch on mine would just hit the slam panel so i have to push the catch in, then push the bonnet down