OMG

[andmcit]

After driving my Xantia TD estate at highish 50-70 speeds for over half an
hour it all went pearshaped a few days back as I was opening it up on a
3 lanes carrieageway without a central reservation where I was on the
"shielded" two lane section passing slower moving vehicles when this
happened:





Hairy as there wasn't a hard shoulder and actually a BIG ditch and I totally
lost visibilty. I'm still trying to work out how it let go here as the bonnet
WAS shut when I started the journey but almost didn't make it to the other
end. It didn't wobble as they do if you've not shut the bonnet firmly and the
plastic catch clearly wasn't sprung to catch the bonnet when it was loose
- I'm starting to get neurotic...

My guardian Angel must work double shifts.

Andrew

[Citroenmad]

Ouch I bet that was a shock

Still your bonnet doesnt look too bad?

Thats a very tidy estate, first time ive seen a picture of it, i didnt know you had it on Activa rims 8)

I saw a Clio with the bonnet wrapped around the roof and windscreen on the motorway today, common thing with them. A faulty catch on yours you think?

[andmcit]

Shock is a polite way of describing proceedings; literally was white out
COMPLETELY and I had to get into the left lane PDQ and stop on a non
existent hard shoulder by guesswork out of the nearside window.

I usually drop the bonnet from about 14" up and then gently press on the
edges after years of closing Cx bonnets and it didn't spring back but I
wonder if some crap had sat in the well and prevented secure locking.
Clearly the safety didn't work and although the bonnet "looks" OK it's bent
now and the safety catch doesn't seem to engage at all now where it did
before - something has twisted. I've actually got a nice straight white
bonnet but need to check the striker catch to prevent a repeat performance!

I've been a numpty in the past and left it with the catch holding the bonnet
and you see it hopping up and down easily at any speed over 15-20mph
and this didn't do that.

Where I can, I like my Xantiae to run on Activa or VSX rims with 205's fitted:



Yes, both estates have a sunroof - yay!!

I REALLY hate the set on my V6 and need to get some more Activa rims
on that when I can and finances permit:



Andrew

[Citroenmad]

Very nice, i like the V6 8)

I usually grease the bonnet catch on every service, just to try and prevent that type of thing.

Handy having so many spare cars and parts!

[addo]

Andrew - out of curiosity can you look up your VIN for the V6 and see if those wheels are "Magny-Cours II"?

Cheers, Adam.

[andmcit]

Hi Adam, Yes the search on the Vin does bring this up:



Item 3 is either Magny Cours or Magny Cours2; there isn't a difference in the
part number. Not totally sure what the deal with the first 5.5J rim is mind
- seems odd listing this Le Castellet as it can surely only create confusion.

Andrew

[addo]

Aha! Thanks for investigating.

I have "Le Castellet" wheels. That basically proves they're same styling, half a size narrower. The inside edge of the rim (viewed from under the car, or on a hoist) has the model moulded into it.

If you ever want to just throw them away, say so...

[KP]

There are always sets for sale buyt export to Oz, even as a gift would not be cheap

[AndersDK]

Arrrghhh
Yes you surely have a guardian angel working overtime.

Have only ever tried that 35yrs ago in my first car, a Mini. An oncoming truck kicked up a chipstone making the windscreen all milkish white in a split second.

Have you found the final cause of the failing catch and safety latch yet ?
Certainly looking forward to your detailed report on this issue

Looks like the start of a new thread : Check your bonnet catch ...

[myglaren]

I did it in a Volvo 265. Just dumnity©. Neglected to dog it down in my haste to get nowhere important.

Taught me to be more careful though.
I like the SAAB system, can't flip the bonnet up like that.

[Citroenmad]

Quite a few Renaults have the backwards opening bonnet too, a good idea for stopping this kind of thing, although it does make them harder to work on, without removing the bonnet.

[addo]

There are always sets for sale but export to Oz, even as a gift would not be cheap

Yes, but if each wheel were to steal a loaf of bread...

[bruno]

Scary. Mine shakes the hood after 100 kph (the front spheres are near the end of their lifes), and lately I've begun to worry that this may happen to me... Better check that latch ASAP.

[bubber]

My bonnet catch came off yesterday.
It was the pin that holds the catch and spring to the bonnet.
Strangely it looks like a large rivet type pin but I could not see any circlip, split pin etc that was holding it in and it didn't appear to have sheared.
I've replaced it with a good old nut bolt and spring washer.
I was just plain lucky I didn't end up in a ditch either.
Cars who'd 'ave 'em.