After picking up my new 55 plate 2.0 Ghia two weeks ago I was having a look under the bonnet and decided to spray some WD40 into the keyhole in the grill and around the catch as it felt slightly stiff and I didn't want any problems.

Well I got a problem straight away! Now my dashboard warning is constantly lit saying "bonnet open". Unless it's a coincidence it seems to be my fault for spraying in WD40. 

Does anyone know the where the control switch telling the car that the bonnet is open is located? If so how can I get the light to go out? I did read about electrical contact spray being great for cleaning these sort of things, I have bought some but have no idea where I should be spraying it.

Any ideas you clever bunch?

Dave.

its the round tube that sits just above the bonnet switch when its open work it in and out a few times

The one that sits upright vertically?

I thought it was that tbh but mine seems to be stuck solid that's why I wasn't sure that was it. 

Should I spray electrical contact cleaner down into the switch to try to clean out the WD40? 

electrical contact cleaner

Just spayed electrical contact cleaner into and around the bullet switch and worked the switch free so it's now moving, although it does look a bit rusty,and I still have the light on. 

Is it a new switch? It looks like it's all part of the lock mechanism and can't be bought separately. Or is there a way of bypassing the switch altogether? 

did you give it a clean with a wire brush might help

Yes that's an idea. I wasn't sure if it was the outside of the bullet that made the connection in the casing or a connection inside at the bottom. But worth a go. 

Thanks. 

Just cleaned the rust off the bullet switch and sprayed again but no luck.

Is there a way to short the connector so that the system thinks the bonnet is closed all the time? I looked around the lock assembly and can't see any wires leading to the switch itself.

It's just annoying seeing the red warning light on constantly and the bonnet open sign keep popping up.

if you find the wires i am sure you could short them but i would replace the switch

Following on from my first post. 

Because the switch was saying bonnet open and my alarm hadn't gone off in the two months I've had the car I assumed the alarm wasn't working on the car. I checked the oil on Sunday and when I opened the bonnet the alarm went off. It hasn't done that before and logic would tell me that the alarm should be going off all the time if the switch indicates an open bonnet surely? 

I'm puzzled!

mine does this since I replaced the bonnet latch and doesn't set the alarm off either quite annoying though..

you can get replacements on ebay here's a link..

http://ebay.us/yUp8XI

The cables are underneath the latch its a 2 pin plug, I keep meaning to link the contacts out but I want to do it neatly and reversible.

 

i had the same problem on my st a just replaced the lock and pin  off ebay and problem sorted 

 

Sorted mine out today made a small link from a short piece of 0.5mm tri rated cable with a ferrel on each end. Then heatshrinked the connector.

No more bonnet open warning

Hi guys I have a 08 1.8 petrol estate focus I have changed the whole lock and mechanism no alarm going off but says bonnet open any idea how I stop this on my dash bored 

Is the switch actually making contact with the bonnet, get someone to press the switch while you watch the warning light.

Eight years on from my original post with all being well its now started happening again!

It looks to me that the bullet switch is pushed in by one of the two bolts on the bonnet holding the latch on, is this correct?

If it is I'll try to stick something to the bolt head to push the bullet switch in further when the bonnet is dropped. 

On 3/3/2016 at 7:00 PM, fr0styTDCi said:

Sorted mine out today made a small link from a short piece of 0.5mm tri rated cable with a ferrel on each end. Then heatshrinked the connector.

No more bonnet open warning

Alarm going off regularly now after adding a rubber stopper on the bonnet bolt to press the bullet switch in further.

As a temporary fix can I do this to stop the alarm going off? Does anyone have a photo of the location of the wires?

1 hour ago, fladavid said:

Alarm going off regularly now after adding a rubber stopper on the bonnet bolt to press the bullet switch in further.

As a temporary fix can I do this to stop the alarm going off? Does anyone have a photo of the location of the wires?

The sensor is just below the locking mechanism and can be unplugged and it will be that you will need to replace.

I unplugged the connector and sprayed electrical contract cleaner inside. Not had the alarm go off for last 5 hours. Only time will tell though. 

On 3/1/2016 at 6:42 PM, fr0styTDCi said:

mine does this since I replaced the bonnet latch and doesn't set the alarm off either quite annoying though..

you can get replacements on ebay here's a link..

http://ebay.us/yUp8XI

The cables are underneath the latch its a 2 pin plug, I keep meaning to link the contacts out but I want to do it neatly and reversible.

 

You could get a breadboard jumper wire  , or make something with a short length of single-strand wire, just to bridge the contacts in the plug

Yes I have some ready to use but the alarm has been silent now since my last post so hopefully that was it. If not I'll use the wire.