[MXD]

So I was going down the dual carriage way doing about 70mph when the bonnet flew open and wrapped itself round the windscreen and roof.

There weren't many people around so I peaked out the bottom of the windscreen which amazingly didn't smash, and slowed down, then began to wonder WTF happened there!?!

I have my car regularly serviced by a specialist and have had the catches de-greased not more than 15k miles ago.

It's a 52 plate with about 60k on the clock so I figure it is worth about 2k. But does anyone think there is any recompense with Alfa? I understand from the threads below that there were some recalls.

http://www.alfaowner.com/Forum/alfa-147-156-and-gt/129459-147-bonnet-catch.html
http://www.alfaowner.com/Forum/alfa-147-156-and-gt/130048-bonnet-recall.html
Alfa Romeo 156 Warning - Alfa Romeo 156 Bonnet Catch

Maybe it was all the salt?

 

[Nev]

Yikes nasty.

There was a recall on the 147 and a warning issued
to keep the latch mechanism clean and greased during
routine maintenance and a recommendation to drop
shut and check the bonnet every time it is closed
so doubtful you'll get any result from AR.uk.


(AR are not the only manufacturer to have this.)

 

[jonwood79]

Oh no, another bonnet thread. Sounds obvious, but who was the last person to have the bonnet open and did they close it in the proper fashion?

 

[Mymatemarmite]

Mate that is an absolute nightmare.........I'm very sorry for you. Unfortunately, as posted above, I don't think you will get anywhere with Alfa UK, especially with the age of the car. I know it's probably no comfort right now, but at least you have got away unharmed.

 

[zulu ferret]

Need to drop and check everytime. Maybe the cable was partially seized if the catch was lubed and functioning correctly? Bad luck chap.:

 

[Alfa-Red]

ooh thats looks familiar, not nice matey glad your ok. i was doing about 70 too i had my car a grand total of a month, knowing nothing about the bonnet catches, i do now and my windscreen smashed

did your interior light and alarm sensor smack you on the head too:rant:

 

[chillihound]

Damn, I am sorry 'bout your bella - glad no one was hurt. Hope it all works out for ya.

 

[Alfa-Red]

Damn, I am sorry 'bout your bella - glad no one was hurt. Hope it all works out for ya.

your sig is too big chilli:lol:

 

[alfa-mick]

did your interior light and alarm sensor smack you on the head too:rant:

:cheese::cheese::cheese: sorry

 

[rhett71]

I have my car regularly serviced by a specialist and have had the catches de-greased not more than 15k miles ago.

Why do you have the catches degreased? I might understand the door catches but am I right in thinking you ask them to do the bonnet?

I always blob some grease on my bonnet catch and exposed release cable when I remember to.

 

[Alexie]

So why doesn't the backup catch stop it from opening completely .... like it's supposed to . It's built like a brick sh*t house, hard to see it failing unless it's too gummed up to latch properly.

 

[seymour beaver]

It happened to me once on a montego that id just taken a deposit on then a few years later i had a grenada with a genuine cosworth engine driving down the outside lane of the motorway the bonnet flew up smashing the screen sending the interior mirror into outer space and the interior light cut my forehead.Fortunately it was still bought for the cosworth engine by a guy who raced them.I feel sorry for you but the bits if sold seperately would still return over 1k.

 

[Alfa-Red]

:cheese::cheese::cheese: sorry

thanks for caringnerner::lol:

 

[Alfa-Red]

So why doesn't the backup catch stop it from opening completely .... like it's supposed to . It's built like a brick sh*t house, hard to see it failing unless it's too gummed up to latch properly.

if its dirty, rusty or whatever, when you shut the bonnet, the safty catch doesnt close all the way. so when you test it after you shut it, it feels shut, but a 70mph wind will lift it.

 

[blueji]

Just shortly after buying my Alfa, I noticed the bonnet loose.......going on the info in the forum, I stripped out and de-greased the catch on my 2000 SW, serviced it to perfection and refitted it........but the release cable still held back the catch from returning fully home, also seems to be the return spring in the catch is not strong enough to overcome the resistance.

Needs to be well oiled!

John

 

[chillihound]

your sig is too big chilli:lol:

I gave it a cold shower Red

 

[meduza-perduza]

What did you use to remove dust and grease it? Shall it be removed to be serviced?

 

[blueji]

Just make a note or mark the position of the catch then remove it, I use white spirit to clean and de-grease parts, once cleaned allow to dry out or you can blast it with an air line if you have one.
Lubricate and refit, I use spray grease as it goes on thin and penetrates, but when cured it will not wash out unlike oil......you can get different viscosity of grease as well, so go for a thin one.

Main thing is keep an eye on it!

John

 

[Chocoboy]

is this just an issue on the 147 or does it cross over onto the 156's as well as i know these cars seems to share a lot of common parts

 

[Alfa-Red]

is this just an issue on the 147 or does it cross over onto the 156's as well as i know these cars seems to share a lot of common parts

yep them too, started on the 156 1st