Hi all 🙂 Just bought a used 2018 Focus st line , mk 3.5 ( i think its 3.5).

And I'm already having a small issue...
System shows that bonnet isn't fully closed. It was fine when i was checking the car before the purchase, like a week ago. 

The bonnet moves up and down maybe 1cm. I tried to adjust the rubber mushrooms. But those were at lowest. Latch system seems clean , nothing obstructing any parts. 

My question is : how unsafe is this ? for a city driving, until i fix it.

Little video showing the gap and how much loose there is (video will expire in 2 days...)

https://streamable.com/t1to8o

 

Thank you in advance.

Are you sure that it just doesn't need latched ?

That looks to me as if it hasn't been full latched and it's only the safety latch holding it closed. Personally I'd not want to risk driving it like that.

the half-latched, just when i open the bonnet is like 5-8 cm wider. But im glad i asked. I will take it to the garage, very slowly.

This feels like its just moving up and down the thickness of the rubber mushroms, or the rubber seal, i can see its squashing it when i push it down. 

It could be that the bump stops are out too far and it’s not letting the bonnet drop enough to engage the secondary latch. 
 

So you could try ***** them in a few turns and see if that lets the bonnet fully close. You then may need to fine tune them to stop the bonnet from kissing the bumper and to set the gaps/flush to the wings etc 

I've tried adjusting those bump stops ( rubber mushrooms) , it's already at the lowest it can get. I'll try getting them a bit higher then. Not sure what are gaps/flush ?

No worries if you’ve already turned them in all the way already. Assume you’ve checked nothing else could be stopping the bonnet from closing fully?

Gaps and flush are the alignment of the bonnet to the edges of the wings/headlamps, does the bonnet edge sit higher or lower than the edges of the wings etc - but definitely a secondary concern to it closing properly. 
 

Also have you tried operating the bonnet latch with a screwdriver or similar to see if it will click into fully latched state? Use the bar of the screwdriver to simulate the metal loop on the bonnet that locks into the latch. 

The correct way of closing a bonnet, is to drop it from a height of about 12 inches. Pushing it down will only incur you denting the metal work over time...

On 3/28/2025 at 8:12 AM, troy45 said:

No worries if you’ve already turned them in all the way already. Assume you’ve checked nothing else could be stopping the bonnet from closing fully?

Gaps and flush are the alignment of the bonnet to the edges of the wings/headlamps, does the bonnet edge sit higher or lower than the edges of the wings etc - but definitely a secondary concern to it closing properly. 
 

Also have you tried operating the bonnet latch with a screwdriver or similar to see if it will click into fully latched state? Use the bar of the screwdriver to simulate the metal loop on the bonnet that locks into the latch. 

A friend and a look at it and he noticed that the bumper is slightly lower on one side. 

I'll try to do what you said today. But I think this will require a specialist to sort out. I think bumper need to come of and be placed correctly. If that's even possible. 

Thanks.