Bonnet flutter.

[hopeless wanderer]

After giving it some beans down the A1 today I noticed something a little unnerving.
My bonnet is lifting a little at motorway speed, it's only a few MM but it's a bit off putting as I'm always worried I haven't closed it properly and it's gonna come up to meet the windscreen.
I've taken the brace out prepping for my front mount intercooler but it's not that flexing. If I try to lift the bonnet when it's shut it comes up 7-8 MM. Is their an adjustment or is it a new catch that's needed?
My Subaru had a worn catch where the pin strikes but it looks fine on Brenda.

 

[fbnss]

Mine does it too but i've not looked into it.

 

[karl webster]

Mine does.
On each side of the inner wings/ slam pannel there's a rubber thing each side that can be adjusted. It's something to do with setting those up.
That's what it is with mine anyway. I expect the locking mech could be adjust a little as well.

 

[goodoldboy]

Mine does.
On each side of the inner wings/ slam pannel there's a rubber thing each side that can be adjusted. It's something to do with setting those up.
That's what it is with mine anyway. I expect the locking mech could be adjust a little as well.

Yep had the same problem on my 95 & as Karl said it was the rubber things just unscrew em a bit....

 

[Dave_S]

Ours does it too - worrying as hell when you first notice it, then you kind of ignore it. at 80 mph its very "active".... not killed me yet, though ;-)

I've got some bonnet pins in the garage I keep forgetting to fit....

 

[Gary820]

I've never noticed it but will have to take it for a blast and see what it does.
They're a big old bonnet so not surprised move a bit.

 

[StarCruiser]

With the secondary catch you'd have to be really unlucky for it to fly up. As said, just adjust the rubber mushroom shaped thingies either side to take up the slack. I can't imagine anything on an 80 being anything less than solid.

 

[clivehorridge]

I've raised my rubber stops too, to stop the flutter.

I suppose it depends on how out of alignment the bonnet is after raising them.

Something will be wrong with the alignment of the final catch, if it only becomes solid when some 7 or 8 mm above the line of the wings.

 

[Shayne]

Yeah its a bit unnerving but the the rubber bonnet stops are threaded allowing you to adjust how solid the bonnet is when shut .

I did contemplate building up the catch again with weld but never bothered .

 

[Chas]

Mine 'flutters' too but I've got used to it now, obviously I checked the bonnet catch when I first noticed it. I didn't know the rubber buffers could be adjusted, I shall check them later.

 

[nick_the_fish]

Yeah i get this too, it got much worse after i hit a camel and deformed the bonet slightly........ But after a while it became normal to see and after checking 200 times i.m assured its not going anywhere. Might have a look at these rubber thingys later

 

[clivehorridge]

Yeah i get this too, it got much worse after i hit a camel and deformed the bonet slightly........ But after a while it became normal to see and after checking 200 times i.m assured its not going anywhere. Might have a look at these rubber thingys later

....and the camel?

 

[Chas]

....and the camel?

Well I bet it had the hump.

 

[chapel gate]

I've raised my rubber stops too, to stop the flutter.

I suppose it depends on how out of alignment the bonnet is after raising them.

Something will be wrong with the alignment of the final catch, if it only becomes solid when some 7 or 8 mm above the line of the wings.

i was thinking the same clive, if you have to raise the bonnet noticeable above the line of the wings the latch or latch keep must be worn.

 

[clivehorridge]

i was thinking the same clive, if you have to raise the bonnet noticeable above the line of the wings the latch or latch keep must be worn.

Is the latch adjustable?

I'm guessing it's bolt/ screwed on, maybe it has ovalised mountings like the door pillar slam-catches do...

 

[chapel gate]

Never noticed tbh. Will have a look tomorrow out if curiosity.

 

[hopeless wanderer]

i was thinking the same clive, if you have to raise the bonnet noticeable above the line of the wings the latch or latch keep must be worn.

I have images of a Japanese chap fastidiously checking panel gaps and the like so I think the bonnet being proud of the wings would be a big no no.

 

[Beau]

I get this too but if I raise the rubber stops the bonnet ends up a couple mm above the wing which I don't like, so I think the best option is to lower the catch itself by a few mm. My cause is due to a front incident a few years back.

 

[hopeless wanderer]

Popped the bonnet lock mechanism off just now. The holes are indeed oval and before dropping the catch I could lift the bonnet a good few mil when locked. I've pushed it down as low as it goes (Mr T left enough adjustment) and that play is now gone. I am still going to fit bonnet pins/locks to secure against anyone going for one of the alarm sirens in and effort to pinch the car. I'll road test it tomorrow.

 

[chapel gate]

So they are adjustable. Worth noting.