[Ian Lusso]

Hi guys,
I'm trying to sort out some bonnet issues that I have:

Firstly, the gap between the bonnet and bumper is big. How do I adjust this?

Secondly, how do I adjust the two latches? I adjusted something and the bopnet would not open so I adjusted it back, but now one side does not latch at all.

Hopefully someone could point me in the right direction so I can try to correct this myself:thumbs:

Cheers!

 

[pkr]

You can adjust the bumper height using the bumper brackets. There's an big Allen bolt that fastens the bumper to the car. Concentric to that is an adjuster. However, they corrode and lock solid. Have a look at the picture in post 5 here :
http://www.alfaowner.com/Forum/alfa-gtv-and-916-spider/294466-front-bumper-irons-brackets.html

Bonnet release :
You have to adjust both sides of the release cable. There's one at the end of the cable and the other is near the catch on the other side.

 

[Ian Lusso]

I know it might be difficult but is the adjustment straight forward? I mean do I just turn this bolt and the bumper will raise or lower?

 

[Mitch916]

I know it might be difficult but is the adjustment straight forward? I mean do I just turn this bolt and the bumper will raise or lower?

Yes. The smaller allen head needs removing, this holds the bumper on at the front. You then turn the bush, larger allen head to adjust up or down. The trouble is, this bush is nearly always rusted in place.

 

[.:ian:.]

The larger allen head also seems a weird size, its marginally less than 16mm!

 

[Ian Lusso]

Yes. The smaller allen head needs removing, this holds the bumper on at the front. You then turn the bush, larger allen head to adjust up or down. The trouble is, this bush is nearly always rusted in place.

When I look down in front of the headlamp, is that the "smaller" allen head bolt? So I now unscrew this in the normal way to reveal a larger "slightly smaller than 16mm" allen head bolt?

Please excuse all the questions, I really want to do this right and want to make sure I'm turning the right bolts!

 

[.:ian:.]

When I look down in front of the headlamp, is that the "smaller" allen head bolt? So I now unscrew this in the normal way to reveal a larger "slightly smaller than 16mm" allen head bolt?

Please excuse all the questions, I really want to do this right and want to make sure I'm turning the right bolts!

Yes, thats pretty much it

Actually I think it is 16mm, but 16mm hex allen headed widgets seem like hens teeth, so had to grind down a 17mm.. (just remembered grinding down with an angle grinder to make it fit..)

 

[Ian Lusso]

Thanks! I'll make sure I have plenty of WD40 or similar stuff to lube up the bits before attempting to adjust.

Silly me, I adjusted my bonnet cable last night. It turns out the right side was not latching! So I adjusted the screw pin attached to the bonnet by the release mechanism and shimmed the cable adjusters up with some washers, and closed the bonnet to check...
...and now can't open it!:lol: Itunlatches on the left side but not the right hand side. It'll have to try to reach it from the bottom tonight to open it, and then adjust it a bit more... :thumbs:

 

[NineOneSix]

I generally find the bumper has just sagged and I find just loosening the 2 smaller bolts then grabbing te bottom of the bumper and lifting as hard as I can gets the gap much tighter then tighten up all done. As the for the bonnet release they're setup in tandem the adjuster is on the drivers side latch, sometimes the spring tension gets weaker on one side then the other so it's tedious to re adjust.

 

[Ian Lusso]

I tried this afternoon, I pulled the bonnet release as far as I could, hooked it in the plastic cowl that it fits through, and tugged but it didn't open. I wonder how I'm ever going to get underneath it to release it now? I'm too big! :cheese:

As soon as it's open (will have to wait for the weekend now) I'll adjust the bonnet. Hopefully it would be a piece of cake. My car is surprisingly corrosion free...:thumbs:

 

[NineOneSix]

Wire coat hanger to hook the cable from the middle, I've snapped my cable and this is the only option to open my bonnet

 

[Ian Lusso]

Good idea, I'll do that!:thumbs:

 

[pkr]

When you get it open at the weekend, do your adjustment process with the grille off. Someone with a thin arm can just about get in there and pull the latches. If it's not you, show your helper the catches first with the bonnet open so they'll know what they're trying to achieve.

 

[CG Trading]

Easy does it

Try removing the trim around the bonnet release handle to allow more movement, I've even cut the 'slot' larger on the inside to allow this when refitted. Have someone else push/pull up & down on the bonnet's front** whilst pulling the handle. ** I've had a bonnet cracked through both side's headlight holes where a 'bodyshop animal' pulled too hard, so be careful, see picture.

If that doesn't work put the car up on a ramp & from underneath you should be able to reach the cable from behind the radiator.

When open remove the grill & the black slam panel plate to aid access to the cable through the grill aperture if it won't open again.

As for the bumper irons snapping, I prefer to remove the irons, soak them & then place the whole length in a vice so as not to snap the end around when undoing. If you don't do this the 1st 'crack' might not be the thread unding but the weld breaking.

Good luck.

Clive

 

[pkr]

If that doesn't work put the car up on a ramp & from underneath you should be able to reach the cable from behind the radiator.

I think the car in question is a relatively recent phase 3. It may well still have its undertray in which case the tray would have to be removed first.

 

[elm11g]

definitely try with two people.

whilst one holds open the handle, the other opens the bonnet.

 

[EauRouge]

The Iron adjuster nut is 5/8 Hex key which is approx 16mm. However, its as mentioned very difficult to get a 16mm Hex socket so search for a 5/8 Hex key instead.

 

[Alfa Seltzer]

Glad I found this thread as my bumper is a tad low on the nearside if you look carefully.

I found the irons last week and freed off the allen bolts but bugger all happened so I retightened them before something fell off...never realised you had to remove them to reveal the larger ones that do the adjustment, luckily I have a 5/8" key at work left over from building coldrooms and everything is already soaked in WD40...

Expect a new thread tomorrow "My bumper is buggered and Alfa want £200 for a bit of angle iron" :lol:

 

[EauRouge]

Alfa Seltzer be warned! do not attempt to free them on the car, remove them and secure them in a vice as they will shear, if you happen to have a flame torch at work? all the better as heat is much better at freeing them than any fluid.

 

[Alfa Seltzer]

Alfa Seltzer be warned! do not attempt to free them on the car, remove them and secure them in a vice as they will shear, if you happen to have a flame torch at work? all the better as heat is much better at freeing them than any fluid.

:thumbs: Thanks...on inspection the irons looked solid with no obvious rust around the welds so I may give them a gentle tweak!

I have got an oxy-acetylene kit in the workshop (last used for patching my rear spring pans ) but I'd rather live with the slight droop than take the bumper off which will doubtless reveal other horrors.

:lol: Its another one of those "wish I'd kept the Focus" moments