Bonnet open/ alarm going off

harrisongs · 29th June 2012, 09:10

Noticed yesterday that the light on the dash kept coming on and off. Narrowed it down to the bonnet. When I locked the car today after about 20 mins the alarm went off. Stopped it, open and closed the bonnet and 20 mins later alarm went off. Any ideas where to look, I gave the bonnet sensor a bit of a wiggle and it hasn't gone off since. It's a zt 1.8
thanks

FrenchMike · 29th June 2012, 09:15

Hi,

Try this:

Bonnet_Switch_Spacer.jpg

trebor · 29th June 2012, 09:18

The bonnet sensors are known to get water in and fail, and there will be other threads on here about it if you do a search, you could try taking it out and checking for water or replacing it altogether.

Alternatively check the adjustment on your bonnet stops as in the picture above in case it is not closing enough to switch the sensor off

pab · 29th June 2012, 09:25

Check the bonnet catches on the slam panel,lubricate them and make sure you can see the little ''Half Moon'' retainers in the catch.

harrisongs · 29th June 2012, 09:27

Ok, will check all of those, thank you. Just so I'm sure the bonnet sensor is the rubber covered button at the front.

suffolk boy · 29th June 2012, 09:37

yes it is do not be tempted to pull the cover off.it cannot be repalced without removing the switch which on a zt is a pain.also if you can not see the half moom latches in the holes in the slam panel slacken of the bolts each side of the catch a tadge they will then pop out .oil them and that should be you done

harrisongs · 30th June 2012, 15:55

tried all the suggestions but not every time but know and again the alarm will go off, i was on the m6 hursday during the freak monsoon so i think water must have got in the switch. haynes says just to reach under and unclipe but thats impossible, is there a way with out removing the bumper to remove the switch
thank you

Greeners · 30th June 2012, 19:46

Quote:

Originally Posted by harrisongs

tried all the suggestions but not every time but know and again the alarm will go off, i was on the m6 hursday during the freak monsoon so i think water must have got in the switch. haynes says just to reach under and unclipe but thats impossible, is there a way with out removing the bumper to remove the switch
thank you

Nope on the ZT it's a bumper off job, but it takes 15 minutes on a ZT. Failing that, get the hair dryer on it and give it a blast of war air

rich17865 · 1st July 2012, 08:38

If you take the rubber cover off, you can spray wd40 into a hole in the top of the plunger pin, this displaces the water in the switch and makes everything happy again. The rubber can be refitted without taking the switch out but it is a faff and much easier to get the switch out to pop it back on. If you have stiff feeler gauges you can just about release the switch clips to get it out without removing the bumper. Lots of patience required though.

harrisongs · 1st July 2012, 16:43

Brilliant will give that ago. Hasn't gone off for at least 24 hours now so may have dried out. A bit of wd40 wouldn't hurt tho

29th June 2012, 09:10	#1
harrisongs Avid contributor mg zt 120 Join Date: May 2011 Location: nuneaton Posts: 172 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Bonnet open/ alarm going off Noticed yesterday that the light on the dash kept coming on and off. Narrowed it down to the bonnet. When I locked the car today after about 20 mins the alarm went off. Stopped it, open and closed the bonnet and 20 mins later alarm went off. Any ideas where to look, I gave the bonnet sensor a bit of a wiggle and it hasn't gone off since. It's a zt 1.8 thanks

29th June 2012, 09:18	#3
trebor This is my second home Rover 75 CDTi Connoisseur SE & MG ZT Saloon 190 Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Coven Posts: 12,523 Thanks: 526 Thanked 1,877 Times in 885 Posts	The bonnet sensors are known to get water in and fail, and there will be other threads on here about it if you do a search, you could try taking it out and checking for water or replacing it altogether. Alternatively check the adjustment on your bonnet stops as in the picture above in case it is not closing enough to switch the sensor off __________________ www.midlandsnanomeets.co.uk Robs Car Gallery Coven near Wolverhampton WV9 2000 Cowley Built Rover 75 2.0 V6 Club SE/ Atlantic Blue/ Sandstone/Walnut (daily driver) 2003 Land Rover Freelander 1 TD4 HSE Helsinki Blue/Black Leather (swmbo daily driver)

29th June 2012, 09:37	#6
suffolk boy This is my second home fiat panda Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: haverhill Posts: 6,720 Thanks: 96 Thanked 586 Times in 526 Posts	yes it is do not be tempted to pull the cover off.it cannot be repalced without removing the switch which on a zt is a pain.also if you can not see the half moom latches in the holes in the slam panel slacken of the bolts each side of the catch a tadge they will then pop out .oil them and that should be you done __________________ fiat panda 1.2 eco

29th June 2012, 09:15	#2
FrenchMike This is my second home Rover 75 Saloon Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Avignon Posts: 4,466 Thanks: 94 Thanked 661 Times in 554 Posts	Hi, Try this: Bonnet_Switch_Spacer.jpg

29th June 2012, 09:25	#4
pab Banned MG ZT V6 190+ Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Leeds Posts: 33,223 Thanks: 41 Thanked 1,614 Times in 1,416 Posts	Check the bonnet catches on the slam panel,lubricate them and make sure you can see the little ''Half Moon'' retainers in the catch.

29th June 2012, 09:27	#5
harrisongs Avid contributor mg zt 120 Join Date: May 2011 Location: nuneaton Posts: 172 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Ok, will check all of those, thank you. Just so I'm sure the bonnet sensor is the rubber covered button at the front.

30th June 2012, 15:55	#7
harrisongs Avid contributor mg zt 120 Join Date: May 2011 Location: nuneaton Posts: 172 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	tried all the suggestions but not every time but know and again the alarm will go off, i was on the m6 hursday during the freak monsoon so i think water must have got in the switch. haynes says just to reach under and unclipe but thats impossible, is there a way with out removing the bumper to remove the switch thank you

1st July 2012, 08:38	#9
rich17865 This is my second home Transit Connect Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Crewe Posts: 9,532 Thanks: 868 Thanked 1,619 Times in 1,095 Posts	If you take the rubber cover off, you can spray wd40 into a hole in the top of the plunger pin, this displaces the water in the switch and makes everything happy again. The rubber can be refitted without taking the switch out but it is a faff and much easier to get the switch out to pop it back on. If you have stiff feeler gauges you can just about release the switch clips to get it out without removing the bumper. Lots of patience required though.

1st July 2012, 16:43	#10
harrisongs Avid contributor mg zt 120 Join Date: May 2011 Location: nuneaton Posts: 172 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Brilliant will give that ago. Hasn't gone off for at least 24 hours now so may have dried out. A bit of wd40 wouldn't hurt tho