How do you close your bonnet/hood?

Post by: **Robbie693** » Mon Sep 26, 2011 9:59 am

Ok so probably the crappiest poll ever but, I've never done one and was curious! I'm also interested in preventing stress cracks...

Post by: **elanfan1** » Mon Sep 26, 2011 1:17 pm

Just to be awkward - None of the above.

Open car door, lean in thru the opening between window frame and windscreen upright, pull on the bonnet handle to pull back the springs with left hand, gentle push at middle of bonnet with right hand and release the bonnet pull.

As stree free an action as you are likely to get I'd suggest.

Post by: **Spyder fan** » Mon Sep 26, 2011 2:56 pm

I just used to drop it from a height of about 30cm, then I changed to placing it gently and pushing on either side to engage the latches..... the reason being that one day I left a 1 litre bottle of oil nestling between the airbox and inner wing, the result being a big mess to clean up and a lucky escape that I didn't damage the paint on the bonnet.

Regards

Post by: **nebogipfel** » Mon Sep 26, 2011 4:04 pm

elanfan1 wrote:Just to be awkward - None of the above.

Open car door, lean in thru the opening between window frame and windscreen upright, pull on the bonnet handle to pull back the springs with left hand, gentle push at middle of bonnet with right hand and release the bonnet pull.

As stree free an action as you are likely to get I'd suggest.

Ditto

However, I would venture to suggest the technique differs from the Elan to the +2

Post by: **frearther** » Mon Sep 26, 2011 6:43 pm

Position over hood pins, press gently, insert clips, enjoy feeling of security from knowing hood (OK, bonnet) will not open of its own accord.

Post by: **nebogipfel** » Mon Sep 26, 2011 6:55 pm

frearther wrote:Position over hood pins, press gently, insert clips, enjoy feeling of security from knowing hood (OK, bonnet) will not open of its own accord.

A couple of old farm gate latches would work too ...but that wouldn't be very elegant either :shock:

OK, so if you insist I call my bonnet a hood, what do I call my hood (the black thing which stops the rain getting in) :?:

Post by: **Galwaylotus** » Mon Sep 26, 2011 7:18 pm

I lower it until it's resting on the catches and then push down in the middle. There's very little resistance and it just clicks into place. :roll:

Post by: **frearther** » Mon Sep 26, 2011 7:55 pm

OK, so if you insist I call my bonnet a hood, what do I call my hood (the black thing which stops the rain getting in)

Top? Lid? Too complicated to raise in a rainstorm? :?:

I wish they had an emoticon for nudgenudgewinkwink.

Post by: **ardee_selby** » Mon Sep 26, 2011 9:37 pm

frearther wrote:Position over hood pins, press gently, insert clips, enjoy feeling of security from knowing hood (OK, bonnet) will not open of its own accord.

WRT to your avatar, I assume you meant to pre-fix the above with:

"First, check for any foreign bodies in the engine bay,..." :wink:

Post by: **frearther** » Mon Sep 26, 2011 11:43 pm

"First, check for any foreign bodies in the engine bay,..."

But I'm not foreign....I'm domestic (no, not a butler, either).

Post by: **reb53** » Tue Sep 27, 2011 5:11 am

elanfan1 wrote:
Open car door, lean in thru the opening between window frame and windscreen upright, pull on the bonnet handle to pull back the springs with left hand, gentle push at middle of bonnet with right hand and release the bonnet pull.

Likewise.
Done it this way ever since I had the latches engage on the wrong side of the catches on the bonnet.
That took some undoing. Now have returns brazed onto the catches so it can't happen again.

Ralph.

Post by: **Old English White** » Tue Sep 27, 2011 8:22 am

None of the above.
Just a pair of stainless quick release pins, and a central black leather strap on front the bonnet. Racing look. And btw, no more cable problems...
"OEW" came without all of these, was a nightmare to operate, never sure about a correct lock. Hopefully, the long front spring between bonnet and steering rack was here to secure ...
Christian. :mrgreen:

Post by: **dougweall** » Tue Sep 27, 2011 3:16 pm

elanfan1 wrote:Just to be awkward - None of the above.

Open car door, lean in thru the opening between window frame and windscreen upright, pull on the bonnet handle to pull back the springs with left hand, gentle push at middle of bonnet with right hand and release the bonnet pull.

As stree free an action as you are likely to get I'd suggest.

Yep that's me as well, easy peasy. :lol:

Post by: **Robbie693** » Tue Sep 27, 2011 3:28 pm

Hmm, I'll have to try this pulling on the cable thing - not sure it's possible in a Plus 2 but I'll have a go.

I always used to do the corners separately on my last Plus 2 but now do the drop from slight height thing as I was concerned that with one corner latched there was a twisting force on the bonnet.

Interestingly no votes for 'I never open the bonnet'! :mrgreen:

Cheers

Robbie

Post by: **ardee_selby** » Tue Sep 27, 2011 3:31 pm

FAO Elan owners...having previously opened it, what did you do next if, say, you're just checking fluid levels?

Unhook spring & remove it completely?
Use a prop of some sort?
Let it go over-centre and rest (on front of radiator and/or fan & edge of aperture)?
Other?

Or should that be another poll?

How do you close your bonnet/hood?

How do you close your bonnet/hood/engine cover/whatever

Total Online:

Recent Forum Topics

Support LotusElan.net!

Recent Wiki Articles