Fulcrum2000 Posted August 2, 2020 Share Posted August 2, 2020 Hi all Ever since I've owned my Supra the passenger side of the bonnet has been raised ie there is a gap at the corner nearest the bumper of maybe a cm I assume the bonnet is slightly warped or twisted but its rather annoying, does anyone know of a fix for this short of buying a new bonnet? I've tried adjusting the rubber stops and even removing one but it makes no difference Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rider Posted August 2, 2020 Share Posted August 2, 2020 The only thing for certain is it wouldn't have left the factory like that. It could be the wing has had a hard straight on bash and the leg is slightly buckled altering the wing panel to a slight down angle or has been replaced and not aligned properly. You wouldn't know for sure unless you unbolted the wing and had a peek. It wouldn't be ideal but you might be able to shim the front of the wing to overcome any minor discrepancy, I've done that on an old car before to improve shut lines and lets face it, Supras are old cars so carry a lot of history behind them and most will have been dinged at least once in 25 years. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fulcrum2000 Posted August 2, 2020 Author Share Posted August 2, 2020 Sorry but what is the process of shimming Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dnk Posted August 2, 2020 Share Posted August 2, 2020 A cm if you mean 1 cm is huge, post up a photo Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rider Posted August 2, 2020 Share Posted August 2, 2020 As dnk say, a cm would be a huge gap to bridge, Shimming is a process of inserting shims which are various gauge metal washers or more normally U shaped clips. So you can raise a join but you wouldn't normally go more than 3mm max with a shim or combination of shims. I reckon though you are more likely to have a fall on your wing rather than a rise on your bonnet. To check the bonnet for warping you can measure corner to corner to the nearest mm and if the diagonals match precisely then your bonnet isn't warped. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fulcrum2000 Posted August 2, 2020 Author Share Posted August 2, 2020 Here's a photo of it at its worst Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
evinX Posted August 2, 2020 Share Posted August 2, 2020 [ATTACH=CONFIG]237216[/ATTACH] Here's a photo of it at its worst Well the bonnet bolts are self centering so no adjustment there. Loosening the front wing bolts at the top will give you a little movement. My bet is the rail on that side is bent. Whip the wing of and take a look. An initial tell tale for frame damage repair will be a painted engine bay Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Noz Posted August 2, 2020 Share Posted August 2, 2020 looks too high as well as over to the drivers side. Check the front of the headlight. Should be much closer than that. Also looks to be zero movement on the wing. Can see how snug it is again edge of the light there on the top it the rubber radius. I've had bonnet issues before. Does the other side have a unusually tight gap to the wing? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
evinX Posted August 2, 2020 Share Posted August 2, 2020 OR is it possible, the 2 headlight bolts that are supposed to go through the inner wing, have not and the wing is sitting against them causing that gap? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Style Posted August 3, 2020 Share Posted August 3, 2020 Is the bonnet definitely shut on both catches? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ben_harmer32 Posted August 3, 2020 Share Posted August 3, 2020 (edited) Are both catches on the car level? (On the body behind the bumper that the bonnet pushes into not the to 'U' brackets on the bonnet itself) They can be moved by loosening the 3 x bolts. I had to move them up to get my carbon bonnet to latch properly. Maybe yours were moved up at some point and can be adjusted down? Also, are you running an aftermarket radiator? Sometimes the filler necks can sit higher and push the bonnet up on that side. Edited August 3, 2020 by ben_harmer32 (see edit history) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WayneW Posted August 3, 2020 Share Posted August 3, 2020 Did you tried to push to bonnet correctly ? Also how is your leveling rubber ? Maybe too high ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dnk Posted August 3, 2020 Share Posted August 3, 2020 (edited) With that amount of gap i don't see how it can be locked in that sides latch, if it is then the frame the latch is in could be where the problem lies Edited August 3, 2020 by Dnk (see edit history) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fulcrum2000 Posted August 3, 2020 Author Share Posted August 3, 2020 This is what I thought too, is it the latch, but by definition you cant see if its working with the bonnet down so it stumped me as to how to test this. I've tried all settings on the rubber stay and even temporarily removing it to see if it had any effect and no joy I'm afraid. Maybe if I put a paper sticker round the u and see if it rubs off when I close the bonnet? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fulcrum2000 Posted August 3, 2020 Author Share Posted August 3, 2020 Needless to say I've drowned it in WD 40 too to try and eliminate the latch being stuck and it didn't help either. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Style Posted August 3, 2020 Share Posted August 3, 2020 Bit of a fiddle but if you push the shaft of a screwdriver or something similar into the catch to see if it has any movement, that will help simulate the catch coming down onto it when you close the bonnet. Can probably also see if the bonnet jumps up when you pull the catch in the cabin. If it doesn't then it's possibly just sitting on top of the catch and not actually dropping into it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dnk Posted August 3, 2020 Share Posted August 3, 2020 Have you tested the latch is working and not stuck in the locked position Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rider Posted August 3, 2020 Share Posted August 3, 2020 Did you get around to measuring up the diagonals on the bonnet? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fulcrum2000 Posted August 3, 2020 Author Share Posted August 3, 2020 I'll measure it later and let you know, I've just manually made the clamps work on both sides and then released them so they still work, but it might be possible to drop the clamp down a bit with its bolts like you say and resolve it easily that way, how adjustable are they? The clamp isnt just floating in there is it, ie if I remove all three bolts it wont just fall through? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fulcrum2000 Posted August 3, 2020 Author Share Posted August 3, 2020 Ok so the difference is about 4mm which could be explained by my measuring I would imagine so they're near as dammit perfect. Here's two pics one of the normal side and one of the affected side, as you can see it all seems to indicate the clamp is not low enugh as the gap increases slightly all the way from the cabin end to the bumper end - if the bumper end was pulled down the effect would be mostly seen at that end and less and less as it goes towards the windscreen which is exactly what it needs to my eye. Can it be dropped by say 3 or 4 mm with those bolts I think that would do it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scooter Posted August 3, 2020 Share Posted August 3, 2020 That looks like the passenger side latch isn't latching? If you open the bonnet use a screw driver on the passenger side latch to simulate the hoop on the bonnet coming down. It's faff to then go back inside and release it etc, but if it's very stiff/won't play ball then penetrating fluid etc to free it up, before a clean and grease to help it stay that way? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ben_harmer32 Posted August 3, 2020 Share Posted August 3, 2020 can you post a picture of the bonnet open, showing the latches and front frame please? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dnk Posted August 3, 2020 Share Posted August 3, 2020 On my car once i'd lowered the bonnet onto the latches i always had to press down quite firmly above each latch to get them to lock, you could hear it when they did Also this is useful for checking dimensions page 102 https://www.mkivsupra.net/vbb/content.php?81-Collision-Repair Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dnk Posted August 3, 2020 Share Posted August 3, 2020 I think i would undo both the latches and lower them down out the way, then lower the bonnet down and see how it sits, possibly take both the adjusting rubbers out or screw them right down Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fulcrum2000 Posted August 15, 2020 Author Share Posted August 15, 2020 I'e finally got it down thanks guys, it was the latch just kept making it close with a screwdriver body and spraying with WD and its finally working Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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