Hi all

I recently had my turbo intercooler pipe changed as it was spilt. Since it went into the garage to get that done, I can no longer open the bonnet....mechanic is denying any responsibility......

The weird thing is, it actually pops open when I turn the key to the left BUT does nothing when I turn the key to the right (and I cant fully open it)

Any advice on how to get it open please (both headlights are currently blown so great timing)

Thanks a lot 

Turn the key to the left and let it pop up to the first stage. Then gently press down on the bonnet until it is nearly closed and turn the key all the way to the right. Good Luck.

2 hours ago, unofix said:

Turn the key to the left and let it pop up to the first stage. Then gently press down on the bonnet until it is nearly closed and turn the key all the way to the right. Good Luck.

Exactly. Keep the key in turned position. When it lets you turn right . 
lift all the way

On the topic of having a bonnet unlock in the front grill...

I take it this was designed to remove the issue of a snapped bonnet release cable?

Did it cause so many other issues that they resorted back to the good old cable release, or was it phased out for a cost-cutting exercise?

1 hour ago, VFR800 said:

Did it cause so many other issues that they resorted back to the good old cable release, or was it phased out for a cost-cutting exercise?

I am now on my 4th 'bonnet lock', it was replaced back to the worldwide accepted method of a lever/cable because the lock design was sh*t...

I think it was largely phased out, on the Mk3 Focus at least, because of push button start.

Having to dismantle the keyfob on a keyless Mk2 is a faff...and not ideal if you pull over in a rush with smoke coming from under the bonnet and the keyfob hidden in the depths of your bag in the boot...

1 hour ago, TomsFocus said:

I think it was largely phased out, on the Mk3 Focus at least, because of push button start.

Having to dismantle the keyfob on a keyless Mk2 is a faff...and not ideal if you pull over in a rush with smoke coming from under the bonnet and the keyfob hidden in the depths of your bag in the boot...

So bottom line, we are in exact agreement, it was a sh*t design! LOL

4 minutes ago, StephenFord said:

So bottom line, we are in exact agreement, it was a sh*t design! LOL

It was definitely poorly executed (typical Ford lol!), though I'm not so sure it was a bad idea at the time. 

On conventional keyed vehicles you'll always have the key to hand and it's more accessible than trying to lean down under the dash for a lever, particularly for older people.  Although they really missed a trick by not fitting bonnet lifters with that huge heavy bonnet!  You need to be tall and strong to get it high enough for the bonnet stay!  

1 minute ago, TomsFocus said:

they really missed a trick by not fitting bonnet lifters with that huge heavy bonnet!

Absolutely! For the cost of a gas strut (or two). Or even spring assistance like on some bootlids.

And how about a £10 lamp like we get in the boot so that we can check levels etc in the dark

I do miss my old BMW that had both those features....

35 minutes ago, StephenFord said:

So bottom line, we are in exact agreement, it was a sh*t design! LOL

Like wrapping the bonnet release in to the door opening on the Mk4, and not moving it for RHD vehicles to the driver's side, so that when the battery goes flat you can't open the door to pull the bonnet catch but have to instead lay across the front seats with your head in the footwell trying to disassemble the lever and turn the mechanism with a wrench...

52 minutes ago, TomsFocus said:

...Although they really missed a trick by not fitting bonnet lifters with that huge heavy bonnet!  You need to be tall and strong to get it high enough for the bonnet stay!  

I modded my last GT4 with bonnet struts, they were fabulous, though you ended up opening the bonnet for no real reason other than to witness the amazing mod. I did look into doing the same thing for my Mk2, but the £85 price tag is just too much. When they start selling them off at half price for a near 20 year old car, I may pull the trigger LOL

40 minutes ago, alexp999 said:

Like wrapping the bonnet release in to the door opening on the Mk4, and not moving it for RHD vehicles to the driver's side, so that when the battery goes flat you can't open the door to pull the bonnet catch but have to instead lay across the front seats with your head in the footwell trying to disassemble the lever and turn the mechanism with a wrench...

At least it doesn't sound as bad as when a Tesla needs some battery attention LOL

 

1 hour ago, alexp999 said:

Like wrapping the bonnet release in to the door opening on the Mk4, and not moving it for RHD vehicles to the driver's side, so that when the battery goes flat you can't open the door to pull the bonnet catch but have to instead lay across the front seats with your head in the footwell trying to disassemble the lever and turn the mechanism with a wrench...

Apparently it's an EU safety thing, so that the passenger can't "accidentally" open the bonnet whilst driving!!!

Great design is always screwed by thick idiots and their shenanigans!! 😉

19 hours ago, unofix said:

Turn the key to the left and let it pop up to the first stage. Then gently press down on the bonnet until it is nearly closed and turn the key all the way to the right. Good Luck.

Unfortunately, no go.

It is still refusing to open fully when turned to the right

Any other suggestions please?

2 minutes ago, symbiosis said:

Any other suggestions please?

Best option is just to keep fiddling it up and down while tweaking the key and hopefully it'll work eventually.

Once opened, remove the cable from the lock so you can just use a large screwdriver to open it in the meantime.  It won't be secure from thieves, but I'd rather that than unable to open it in an emergency myself.

If it really won't open, you'll have to get in behind the grill to remove the lock.  In the early days people would snap the grill out but I have since seen ways of doing it through the grill with enough patience and the right tools.  There are videos on Youtube that can show the process.

15 minutes ago, symbiosis said:

Unfortunately, no go.

It is still refusing to open fully when turned to the right

Any other suggestions please?

Can you be specific when you say it won't open 'fully'? I have just opened my own Mk2 to check oil. On a left key turn, you hear the click, and the bonnet pops up about an inch. However, when you turn it right, there is no further movement of the bonnet, and no noise, you just simply put your hand in the gap and lift it...

25 minutes ago, StephenFord said:

Can you be specific when you say it won't open 'fully'? I have just opened my own Mk2 to check oil. On a left key turn, you hear the click, and the bonnet pops up about an inch. However, when you turn it right, there is no further movement of the bonnet, and no noise, you just simply put your hand in the gap and lift it...

Hi, so to clarify. 

"On a left key turn, you hear the click, and the bonnet pops up about an inch" - Yes this happens

when you turn it right, there is no further movement of the bonnet, and no noise - also correct

you just simply put your hand in the gap and lift it - that's where I am getting the issue, it doesn't lift any further than the initial inch, and I can hear it catching against something

The mechanic that changed the turbo boost pipe said he had to remove the cover that fits over the lock mechanism etc to access it, so I wonder if it hasn't gone back on properly. Does that sound possible?

Cheers

 

 

18 minutes ago, symbiosis said:

The mechanic that changed the turbo boost pipe said he had to remove the cover that fits over the lock mechanism etc to access it, so I wonder if it hasn't gone back on properly. Does that sound possible?

Yep. It certainly sounds like your lock is functioning perfectly! However, as you diagnose, something somewhere is preventing it lifting. Have you got down on your knees, shone a torch inside the gap, and looked for a possible obstruction?

12 minutes ago, StephenFord said:

 Have you got down on your knees, shone a torch inside the gap, and looked for a possible obstruction?

Yep, but I cant immediately see anything. 

 

I need to take a better look - when (if ever) it finally stops raining 

Is this not likely to be something disturbed in the notorious mk2 bonnet locking mechanism that’s causing it not to fully open?

Or when that happens is it always the first stage that won’t work too?

1 minute ago, troy45 said:

Is this not likely to be something disturbed in the notorious mk2 bonnet locking mechanism that’s causing it not to fully open?

Or when that happens is it always the first stage that won’t work too?

Having experienced 3 separate lock failures, I feel qualified to answer this. When the lock fails, it will fail on the first turn to the left and will not pop the bonnet open at all...

My next step would be to use my cheap endoscope connected to my laptop and see if I could see either from the bonnet gap or through the grill. 

19 hours ago, StephenFord said:

Having experienced 3 separate lock failures, I feel qualified to answer this. When the lock fails, it will fail on the first turn to the left and will not pop the bonnet open at all...

Hope for me yet then!

So, today a eureka moment (or so I thought) - I sprayed the whole mechanism with loads of WD40 last night and when I got home tonight on the 3rd attempt it opened! 

I scraped all the cr*p off the hinges etc made sure everything seemed to be moving freely but noticed that this bit of the catch (the bit that retracts when you turn the key to the right) didn't seem to be retracting fully all the way and would only go about half way back. However, after some time it seemed to free up. 

Then I made the same mistake as others before me, I assumed it was fixed and shut it - now I have the same problem again!!

As it would seem that its definitely this second catch not returning back all the way, what can I do if I get it back open please? Can I somehow jam that bit fully back permanently?

Cheers

 

 

Use spray 3in1 oil, not WD40.

You have partly eased the catch with the WD40 but now it needs lubrication. A good soaking overnight with 3in1 oil (available in a spray can) should finally get things moving again.