bonnet alignment DIY fix

[slowhand99]

:focus:Anyway, back on topic...

I wonder if the hood catch is changed at the upfitters for the UK cars? Maybe the cause of the poor adjustment?

:amen:
Good thought; probably true to accommodate the effect of the 'deployable hood'.

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[Big_G]

Think I must be lucky, my alignment was bang on. I do hate how you can't close the bonnet by just pushing it down to lock though, you have to drop it from about 6"

 

[Monty]

Think I must be lucky, my alignment was bang on. I do hate how you can't close the bonnet by just pushing it down to lock though, you have to drop it from about 6"

I know what you mean. I seem to have to drop my Mustang bonnet from a good 12 inches, its a really stiff catch. The huge crashing noise this makes is really horrible.

Dropping is the 'proper' way to close a bonnet though. When new to motoring, I recall shutting my mark 4 escort by pushing on it (rather than dropping) and it dented the bonnet! Learned my lesson the hard way.

 

[MoZ]

Useful thread Monty. I hope I don't need to use it but at least I'll know what to do if my car is misaligned.

 

[stevec]

Mine has the same alignment issue with the bonnet but despite the fact that I used to be a technician (long time ago) I rarely touch my own cars. No, I think I may ask my dealer to take a look when I book it in to have the rattle in the drivers door sorted.
I may even print this out so they can see the before and after!!

 

[John577]

Thanks for this nice tutorial. I also have this problem on my car and will do the fix really soon

This alignment problem annoys me more and more ...

 

[Manders Mustang]

Thanks for this nice tutorial. I also have this problem on my car and will do the fix really soon

This alignment problem annoys me more and more ...

how 'bad' is this alignment?

I've heard both sides of it, some are saying it's fine, others are saying it's awful, and Andy has specifically said that UK cars go through more strenious QA testing than USA's stock cars (Can't find the post, but it's lodged in my mind for some reason).

 

[John577]

For me, it looks really bad, here's a picture showing the misalignment

 

[Manders Mustang]

Ah yes, I can see with the bonnet, is it just that pannel, or are they all bad, i've seen early S550's in the states on youtube just getting rinsed for door pannels and fenders/wings not being aligned, boots being out of place etc.

Needless to say if mine comes with any misalignments (Or any other manner of issues that i've seen, f4 satnav maps not f5, Dodgey paint, dents/scratches, wonky windscreens, wire loom issue etc - It will be going back to my dealer under waranty to fix asap).

 

[John577]

Yea, it is a little push in the middle if you compare with the sides at the headlights.

That was the only bad alignment I noticed on the car.

 

[Manders Mustang]

Yea, it is a little push in the middle if you compare with the sides at the headlights.

That was the only bad alignment I noticed on the car.

Quite minor and OP seems to have a fix for it, i'll look into them all on mine, as someone else suggested, i'll print the thread and give it to a mechanic to fix, i'm the last guy on earth you'd want messing with a car, persistance and total stupidity with mechanics don't mix well :lol:

 

[RandyStang]

[MENTION=13759]Monty[/MENTION] - good post and knew I had seen this along the way. Looks like I will be doing this DIY adjustment today.

I didn't really notice it at the dealers but with the stripes on, it really accentuate the piss poor alignment!

 

[SidewaysMike]

Great post! I know some can be particular where things are posted but I think you'd do the forum a great favor posting this in the broader DIY section as well.

 

[SSC]

Quite minor and OP seems to have a fix for it, i'll look into them all on mine, as someone else suggested, i'll print the thread and give it to a mechanic to fix, i'm the last guy on earth you'd want messing with a car, persistance and total stupidity with mechanics don't mix well :lol:

I think the dealership should do it for free, try showing him the pictures and ask them to check it as part of the PDI checks and rectify if needed as it should be part of the panel alignment.

 

[Manders Mustang]

I think the dealership should do it for free, try showing him the pictures and ask them to check it as part of the PDI checks and rectify if needed as it should be part of the panel alignment.

I've updated the sticky topic to include bonnet center pinch pannel alignments and a link to this thread

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