Hi,

 

So like an idiot I went out and forgot the bonnet wasn't latched.  (I use a trickle charger on the car).  Got up to about 50mph and the bonnet came up and smashed the windscreen.  Luckily I was near home and stopped safely in a straight line whilst not being able to see where I was going.  I've ordered a couple of hinges from eBay to replace the bent ones and am hoping the bonnet will sit flush (enough) on new hinges.  Can anyone tell me the method to replace the hinges please?  Thanks.
Pic of left hand hinge in situ vs what they are supposed to look like 😞  

That's a shame 😞 I'm wondering why the safety catch didn't stop it coming up. Check it's not seized!

 

Bonnet video....

 

 

Ah, thanks, I’ll have a watch, I’ve used a few of his videos before. Definitely user error caused this one, annoyingly. Thanks, Jon

I am amazed, looking at the picture the bonnet appears undamaged, normally it would be bent double at the hinge point when they reach the limit of their travel.

 

It would appear that Simply Clever Skoda (VAG actually) have designed the hinges to be sacrificial, if the bonnet sits flush with some adjustment on new hinges you have had a very very lucky escape.

Mehod to replace, unbolt old hinge & fit new, do them one at a time and adjust as required to get the best fit, you can use the paint marks on the old hinges from the washers as an initial guide.

What are those two pins sticking out of the front of the bonnet? Are they those quick release things and the safety catch has been disabled? Something isn't right.

Edited 24 February, 20224 yr by TMB

The two pins at the front are retaining pins for spotlights. You might be able to spot the two welded on brackets above the number plate where the lights are fitted to.

 

ok, now I can see how to remove/ replace the bonnet (& the video helps). 
 

The back of the bonnet is slightly bent upwards I think. Ok, so the hinges themselves are obvious? It looks a bit fiddly but maybe with the bonnet off the access will be easier.

Just now, jonmad said:

The two pins at the front are retaining pins for spotlights. You might be able to spot the two welded on brackets above the number plate where the lights are fitted to.

 

Ah ok

 

Still don't understand why the safety catch didn't work but I won't go on about it 😛

Update, if you're interested.  I got the bonnet off thanks to the HatBoyHarvey video above - two T40 bolts each side.  The hinges were also held on by two T40 bolts each.  There is a round black grommet each side to get to one of them - the ones that are nearer the front of the car.  For the rear ones there was limited space - on the driver's side I was able to get enough space for a tiny ratchet spanner by stopping the wipers in the vertical position to get the wiper arm out of the way.  I marked round the hinges before removing to help realignment later.  In the pic I have reattached the bolts where the hinges go, to avoid losing them.

[ ETA: as a possibly more accurate alternative to marking up for hinge and bonnet alignment before removal, and not as hinge replacements ] - Another method of keeping hinge alignment, if possible, is to drill little alignment hole(s) in hinge plate(s) where you can use a small diameter self-taping screw to align and hold the hinges whilst bolts are put back.

 

Also the use of clean cloths of sufficient thickness to protect paintwork or even gap or support bonnet rear corners on some cars.

 

Edited 27 February, 20224 yr by nta16
ETA:

Thanks, will bear that in mind. Some replacement hinges should arrive mid week so I’ll then get an idea how much of a challenge it will be for the bonnet to fit and get aligned.

@jonmad sorry my drill and screws won't work for your hinge replacements, it was as a possibly more accurate alternative to marking up for hinge and bonnet alignment before removal and not as hinge replacements.   Apologises, I'll try to rewrite it.

 

The cloths is OK though, only the other day I saw Ed China do it.

 

Edited 27 February, 20224 yr by nta16

Gotcha!  Thanks. (yes, that would have been a good idea ).