Okay, so when you've had the bonnet open, and you want to close it again, the manual says you should drop it from a height of 30 cm - **DO NOT push closed** - but each time I've had the bonnet open, and tried closing it like that, it doesn't close properly - it sticks just open, with the "pull toggle" still sticking out, and I have to push down on it to get it closed.

what should (or shouldn't) I be doing?

(and no - I don't want to invest in a bonnet lifter kit, thanks )

sounds like the bonnet is slightly out of alignment.

or (having just done a search and found a thread from 2004 ) perhaps I'm just not dropping it from high enough.

I always dropped mine from about 5cm and pushed it closed. Never did any harm!

Chris

And there was me struggling to push it shut. RTFM? NEVER!

Yeah, drop it from higher. First time I went to close mine, it took about 5 drops, each time a little higher than the last. About 30cm sounds about right

Open it again and let it drop from a progressively higher height till it shuts, or when closing rather than dropping push down with minimal force with thumbs either side of the grill section

Drop it from higher, it won't do any harm. Pushing it closed is a bad idea because you dent it

Blimey - stop being so nice to it, anybody would think it was new!

Yep, just drop it from a greater height mate. That's what I always do. When you try to push them shut it always feel like you'll damage it.

Steve

Pushing it closed is a bad idea because you dent it

Funny - I never managed to dent mine

Chris

Funny - I never managed to dent mine

Chris

An awful lot do dent dented in this way. However it's only become a problem on newer cars where the metal is so thin.

With the octy, I always push it shut.

I push mine shut so I can feel it latch closed.