Bonnet spring.
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I am told that the Elan bonnet should open up a bit and spring hold it up a little when the inside released are pulled.
My car does not do this- I have to pull it up. I fit a new spring and it appears to be mounted as original, unless I’m missing something (likely).
Do most of them pop open?
Mark
My car does not do this- I have to pull it up. I fit a new spring and it appears to be mounted as original, unless I’m missing something (likely).
Do most of them pop open?
Mark
1966 Lotus Elan S3- Benelli motorcycles (various)
- Lotus54
- Second Gear
- Posts: 132
- Joined: 10 Oct 2023
- Location: Port Angeles, WA USA
When the catch has released, the bonnet should pop up about 6 inch, you then have to lift it yourself to release the spring from the hook and then you can remove the bonnet .As far as I am aware It is not designed to lift the bonnet completely to get access to engine bay.
Regards
G
Regards
G
- MACCA.GLM
- Second Gear
- Posts: 179
- Joined: 06 Apr 2023
- Location: MIDLANDS
Try a little grease on the slides. Often provides a simple and instant fix.
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elanner - Fourth Gear
- Posts: 626
- Joined: 14 Sep 2010
- Location: Boston, MA, USA
All bonnet springs were not made equal. A friend of mine had a spring that was weak as f..k, would not raise the bonnet when the catch was pulled, and he wondered why not. When I tried hooking and unhooking his spring, I could pull it out about a foot, the spring was so weak.
Get yourself a correct spring and the bonnet will pop up.
Leslie
Get yourself a correct spring and the bonnet will pop up.
Leslie
- 512BB
- Coveted Fifth Gear
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- Location: Cambridgeshire, UK
This one seems pretty stiff- I have a hard time pulling it up to hook. But of course not much room to get hand in there for a good grip.
I will try suggestions. I bought this one new from one of the usual suspects.
I know it will not hold it up- but having it pop up a few inches would certainly make things easier.
Thanks for suggestions.
Mark
I will try suggestions. I bought this one new from one of the usual suspects.
I know it will not hold it up- but having it pop up a few inches would certainly make things easier.
Thanks for suggestions.
Mark
1966 Lotus Elan S3- Benelli motorcycles (various)
- Lotus54
- Second Gear
- Posts: 132
- Joined: 10 Oct 2023
- Location: Port Angeles, WA USA
Does your bonnet rotate on nylon bolt heads and have a metal shell, or directly on the fibreglass?
Elan S2 DHC (26-4399),
- Barney
- Third Gear
- Posts: 252
- Joined: 13 Aug 2007
- Location: North Lincolnshire, UK
Hi Mark,
For years I have used this method of unhooking the spring.
I have a 400mm long 10mm wide cable tie, the end pushed into the lock to form an elongated loop about 150 to 200mm long. This is placed over the spring and drops down by the bottom of the rad.
When I want to unhook the spring, from the right side of the car, with the right hand I reach down to the cable tie and position it under the hook alongside the bonnet clip. Then, with the left hand (resting on the top of the radiator) I take the strain of the spring. With the right hand, I pull the hook out from the bonnet clip, then gently allow the spring to relax. The cable tie tends to stay on the spring and is retained when the spring is hooked to the bonnet.
As they say "Replacement is the reversal of the procedure outlined above."
Once you get the hang of using it, it is a quick and easy, safe way to remove the bonnet spring.
Graham
For years I have used this method of unhooking the spring.
I have a 400mm long 10mm wide cable tie, the end pushed into the lock to form an elongated loop about 150 to 200mm long. This is placed over the spring and drops down by the bottom of the rad.
When I want to unhook the spring, from the right side of the car, with the right hand I reach down to the cable tie and position it under the hook alongside the bonnet clip. Then, with the left hand (resting on the top of the radiator) I take the strain of the spring. With the right hand, I pull the hook out from the bonnet clip, then gently allow the spring to relax. The cable tie tends to stay on the spring and is retained when the spring is hooked to the bonnet.
As they say "Replacement is the reversal of the procedure outlined above."
Once you get the hang of using it, it is a quick and easy, safe way to remove the bonnet spring.
Graham
- Graham B
- First Gear
- Posts: 23
- Joined: 27 Apr 2020
- Location: Staffordshire
It rotates on nylon bolts and a metal sleeve.
I put a bit of silicon grease on it- still the same.
It was just around the steering racki- that is correct, yes?
Mark
I put a bit of silicon grease on it- still the same.
It was just around the steering racki- that is correct, yes?
Mark
1966 Lotus Elan S3- Benelli motorcycles (various)
- Lotus54
- Second Gear
- Posts: 132
- Joined: 10 Oct 2023
- Location: Port Angeles, WA USA
It might be the catches are not fully releasing.
On my Sprint I pull the bonnet release and tap the bonnet slightly for it to pop up.
Even with a very strong bonnet spring
On my Sprint I pull the bonnet release and tap the bonnet slightly for it to pop up.
Even with a very strong bonnet spring
1972 Elan Sprint FHC
- cliveyboy
- Fourth Gear
- Posts: 889
- Joined: 22 Sep 2003
- Location: Oxfordshire UK
Yes you are correct
the spring fits around the steering rack an bonnet rotates on nylon bolts onto a stainless flat slide. If the bonnet catches the bodywork that could make the bonnet harder to release .Also over the years lots of body filler on the bonnet could have made it heavier from various repairs etc etc.
Regards
G
the spring fits around the steering rack an bonnet rotates on nylon bolts onto a stainless flat slide. If the bonnet catches the bodywork that could make the bonnet harder to release .Also over the years lots of body filler on the bonnet could have made it heavier from various repairs etc etc.
Regards
G
- MACCA.GLM
- Second Gear
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- Location: MIDLANDS
MACCA.GLM wrote: .Also over the years lots of body filler on the bonnet could have made it heavier from various repairs etc etc.
Regards
G
This^^^. After my last paint job, I found the bonnet to weigh almost twice what it originally weighed. The
painter thought 'if a little is good, more must be better' . Hate to think how much more the car
weighs now. And the bonnet barely raises because of this.
Greg Z
45/0243K Sprint
45/7286 S3 SE DHC
45/0243K Sprint
45/7286 S3 SE DHC
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gjz30075 - Coveted Fifth Gear
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I cannot see damage from the underside, but likely has several layers of paint.
It appears to be releasing well- even when off the latches is will not stay up at all- not even a few mm.
Lubing the metal/nylon didn’t seem to help.
New spring is no different than the original one.
The metal tab where it connects seems ok, but then I don’t have anything to compare. I will look at that also- but it does not seem it could be distorted very much.
Thanks for all the ideas.
Mark
It appears to be releasing well- even when off the latches is will not stay up at all- not even a few mm.
Lubing the metal/nylon didn’t seem to help.
New spring is no different than the original one.
The metal tab where it connects seems ok, but then I don’t have anything to compare. I will look at that also- but it does not seem it could be distorted very much.
Thanks for all the ideas.
Mark
1966 Lotus Elan S3- Benelli motorcycles (various)
- Lotus54
- Second Gear
- Posts: 132
- Joined: 10 Oct 2023
- Location: Port Angeles, WA USA
Hi
Have you checked the hook on the bonnet is not bent in a downward position, thus relieving the pressure on the spring to pop the bonnet to a reasonable height. My sprint releases to approx 150mm.Take the bonnet off and bend the hook more towards the front of the car.
Good luck
G
Have you checked the hook on the bonnet is not bent in a downward position, thus relieving the pressure on the spring to pop the bonnet to a reasonable height. My sprint releases to approx 150mm.Take the bonnet off and bend the hook more towards the front of the car.
Good luck
G
- MACCA.GLM
- Second Gear
- Posts: 179
- Joined: 06 Apr 2023
- Location: MIDLANDS
Lotus54 wrote:I cannot see damage from the underside, but likely has several layers of paint.
It appears to be releasing well- even when off the latches is will not stay up at all- not even a few mm.
Lubing the metal/nylon didn’t seem to help.
New spring is no different than the original one.
The metal tab where it connects seems ok, but then I don’t have anything to compare. I will look at that also- but it does not seem it could be distorted very much.
Thanks for all the ideas.
Mark
Hi
Alternatively, you can modify everything a little.
Not for purists, of course.
I can remove my hood in seconds, although I rarely have to do that, not even to check the oil level
Urs
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ElanDNA - Second Gear
- Posts: 132
- Joined: 31 Jan 2017
- Location: Switzerland
- Lotus54
- Second Gear
- Posts: 132
- Joined: 10 Oct 2023
- Location: Port Angeles, WA USA
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