Citroen XM Forum

The bonnet catches have never done their job properly. The ns one has been useless for the past year and the os one has now started to play silly buggers. I've had the catches out once before, cleaned and greased them, cable working perfectly but it's made no difference. The bonnet will not shut now, just bounces back up. The other option is to bend the rods on the bonnet slightly but before I go down that route will they bend easy enough or do they respond better with a bit of heat on them?

Just a thought, Eddie - the two rubber buffers at the front corners of the bonnet lid are height-adjustable, even though they don't look it. Try screwing them in a few mm to give some extra closure/drop to the lid.

That is a good suggestion Chris and I remember Will tinkering with mine! As I recall you simply rotate the rubbers. With regards, Matthew T.

I can't see bending the bonnet keeps is a good idea, or will work. It sounds like the latches aren't working properly.

I've tried the two rubber buffers with no success. In fact I was surprised how easy they moved.

I would like to think that it is the latches but have watched them as someone else pulled the bonnet lever and they seem to work properly.

Check the back end.
All the hinge nuts allow adjustment and the hinges bend easily.
Sod of a job getting a bonnet to adjust and latch if it has been removed to bend back straight.
Still it held the strut down for a few miles.
The creases do not look too bad.

John

Crying shame as I had planned to take her out today for a good run out having neglected her for a while. Only leaves me next weekend to sort her out and drive as she comes off the road at the end of the month.

You've probably done this already, but check that the two bonnet latches are in the "open" position for the two bonnet rods to descend into. It's possible for the latches to be closed, but without the bonnet rods inside them. This will prevent the bonnet from closing properly, and will also not keep the bonnet latched down.
You can manually open the latches up with a stout screwdriver, or something like. Should look like 'jaws open'.

The latches are working okay. When I force the bonnet down the jaws try to clamp around the rods but as soon as I let go of the bonnet it springs back up.

Taking on board what John says I'm tempted to take them out again, soak them in diesel for a day or so, clean everything up, and then put them back in greased up and try to adjust the setting and see how it goes.

Hi Eddie,

Just had a look at mine - S2, but probably the same.
The two latches are mounted with 10mm bolts, and I guess the latches could be vertically adjustable.
Try raising them, so the latching action is triggered.
I wouldn't bend the rods - they are stout, and are secured by relatively small welds.