The Škoda Handbook information on the correct method of closing the bonnet on the new mk4 Octavia just doesn’t make sense to me.

Anyone know how to do it properly without risking damage to the bonnet or lock mechanism?
Any info gratefully accepted. Thanks

in all the years of having cars i have never have or heard of anyone doing any damage to bonnet or lock.you have to be firm to make sure it is locked in position.how many cars have you owed?

What exactly doesn't make sense to you?

This is how I was closing the bonnet on all my cars and it's the same with the Octi. I release the bonnet from approx. 20 cm height so it closes itself. I never push the bonnet down in the lock position with my hands to avoid damaging it.

Yeah guys that’s what I’ve always done too, but the handbook says, for closing the bonnet,:-

“Closing

1.  Pull the flap down with a slight push from a distance of about 20cm.

2.  Check that the bonnet is closed

 

Notice

Do not press down on an unclogged bonnet

Open and close the flap again”

 

Thats the exact wording in the handbook.  
So, what flap are Škoda talking about.  Do they mean ‘bonnet’ or the bonnet catch lever under the bonnet, and what do they mean by “Open and close the flap again’”.

Do they mean don’t open and close the flap again?

 

Common sense and the. Octavia mk4 don’t always go together!

Sorry that should read ‘Do not press down on an unclosed bonnet’

I didn't realise there was a technique to closing a bonnet.  I've always just let them drop and slam shut, or on the Audi which has gas struts just pull it down until the weight shifts and let it slam.

just like to know  why this on here/most of us must of opened and shut bonnet lids 1000s of time with no mishaps.in other words just do what you have been doing over the years.i think i will leave this alone from now.

The wording is a little strange isn’t it? I’ve never “clogged” a bonnet before….

The bonnet locks are unusual in my experience. There are two widely separated locking latches. I have found that sometimes only one of the latches locks on closing and I think the manual is trying to warn you to release and open the bonnet and try to close it again to avoid damaging the bonnet. The bonnet seems to be made of a thin and flexible steel, possibly for safety reasons, and I guess the dual struts and latches are used to compensate for the flexibility.

48 minutes ago, ChubbsH said:

Common sense and the. Octavia mk4 don’t always go together!

 

Haha 

I checked how it's written in Slovenian language.

So translation to English is like:

- Pull the bonnet down
- Release the bonnet from approx 20 cm height
- Check if the bonnet is firmly closed
- Don't press on the bonnet if it's not firmly closed
- Open  and close the bonnet again

Edited 10 January, 20224 yr by TheUltraRunner

Thanks TheUltraRunner and SoupDragon.  That helps make sense of the poorly written instructions.  Just a shame Škoda couldn’t be bothered to get a decent proof-reader to look at the translation into English before they committed the information to print.

It’s all very well the others dismissing a seemingly innocuous query about closing the bonnet, but if people had damaged their bonnets by not following Škoda’s instructions exactly, how many would have accepted responsibility for the damage, and not blamed Škoda.

I’ve owned cars for over 50 years and never had a problem closing bonnets before.   However,  new cars today are increasingly complex and have many built in subtleties which, if not understood properly, can result in damage if correct procedures aren’t observed.  Many drivers seem to adopt the old adage ‘if all else fails, read the instructions’.  I prefer to read them first.

Thanks to all who’ve replied to my call for help.  Case (and bonnet!) now closed.

 

I once closed the bonnet wrong on my Octavia 4.

 

I closed it, looked at it and noticed the bonnet is strongly to one side. (i did this because it was always a bit to the side, they fixed this on the second service repair...)

 

Then I opened it and closed it again, this time it closed properly.

 

Apparently one of the strut things did not "go into itself" properly, but instead turned/leaned to the side.

 

Quality and Octavia 4, I guess... *shrug*

 

PS: On my previous car I just dropped the bonnet from about 20 cm (as in its the manual), but many people don't do that, instead they gently lower it, the push it in to lock.

2 hours ago, SoupDragon said:

The bonnet locks are unusual in my experience. There are two widely separated locking latches. I have found that sometimes only one of the latches locks on closing 

 

have had that on our Kodiaq too...   the wife was not impressed as the car threw various warnings and I hadn't realised!