Dumb things to forget to check

red964 · 03-07-2006, 02:09 AM

No 1: Pick your car up from the MOT station (it failed by the way)
and drive it home down the motorway at 80mph.

On arrival at home find the hood (bonnet to us in the UK) has been left wide open resting only on the finger catch!.

What the heck was the MOT man in their for?

I guess it confirms I aligned my front end catch properly when I backdated the slam panel

I think my bonnet has a passion for flipping up, the previous owner Mike Walker (of Martin & Walker) had it fitted to his race car, he was bodding on the road somewhere and had forgot to put his race pins on back and front and the bonnet flipped about 50 feet in the air and over a truck following him

mental note: always check bonnet when collecting car.

Geronimo '74 · 03-07-2006, 04:52 AM

Been there, done that, several times...

At first you notice a strange draft coming through the dash (at 120 mph)...
Not funny when you think of it afterwards...

gerry100 · 03-07-2006, 05:03 AM

The MOT man was looking for the motor

acapella8 · acapella8's Garage

This happened to me for the frist time last Sunday AM. Porscheguy79 can probably confirm the area as he's somewhat nearby.

The previous evening, I had just flushed trans oil with Swepco, managed to work out my non-start (trigger ground was not configured properly on the new MSD coil and the stock 6pin Bosch CDI) enjoying new shift bushings. Just a great morning with my SC.

I'm happily heading westward crusing down Palatine road at about 70-75 when BAM! the front hood SLAMS up with great force!! Pinning itself in the upposition due to the amount of resistance from the airfoil created.

Luckily no one was behind me, and I was able to pull (somewhat) calmly over to the side of the road, properly secure the latch, decide what my next new pair of underwear will be, and drive on my merry way.

It pays to check the latch. Your BVD's will thank you.

-Tom
(edit, my latch was up due to a disco on the NEG battery terminal)

PorscheGuy79 · PorscheGuy79's Garage

Well im just glad everything is fine in both cases, you dont need to learn how to do an unncessary windshield install.

Jeez, Tom you keep these projects up and you will be more of a resourse than me soon enough.

Rad Hatter · 03-07-2006, 05:14 AM

Good tip ..
Bloody dangerous ..
Surely the hinges must have been severly bent back did the hood close or was it damaged?
Richard

red964 · 03-07-2006, 05:16 AM

owch - luckily it didnt wrap back against the screen.

idea.. cut a view hole in the bonnet and use that instead of that expensive big red brake conversion, just pop the bonnet when you need an airbrake

acapella8 · acapella8's Garage

I inspected for damage, none found. Guess I'm lucky...

kqw · 03-07-2006, 05:32 AM

Whenever I have to open the trunk, I unlock the latch and LEAVE the key on the lock.

This serves to remind me that I accessed the trunk and to check and make sure I've closed it.

red964 · 03-07-2006, 05:38 AM

What about a boot lid contact switch and some very loud alarm bells.

Rad Hatter · 03-07-2006, 05:45 AM

Bet this is quite a common mishap ...

red964 · 03-07-2006, 07:06 AM

probably why porsche put that really big hook on their.
I wonder if their is a really early rare as hens teeth NOS latch design that doesnt have it, probably still attached to a really battered old bonnet

hehehe

oldE · 03-07-2006, 07:52 AM

Guys,

I thought this was the real reason behind gas tanks with fillers that came up through the hood. When somebody goofs with the latch and the hood pops up at speed, you've got a hole to look through!
(I'm only laughing because I haven't done it. Yet.)

Les

red964 · 03-07-2006, 08:04 AM

Its daft because I did have a six sense moment before I even set off to the MOT station, I had an overwhelming sense of urgency to check the hood, I got out and checked it, then got out again and checked it. I got back in the car thinking 'how stupid was that'

it was almost as thought something was pre-warning me that the MOT man was going to leave it open,

when I got their and Bruce Willis put it on the ramps I knew I was imagining things...

red964 · 03-07-2006, 08:07 AM

My first car a fiesta, I spent far to long taking the 950cc engine out then weeks and weeks putting a 1.3 supersport engine in. Then realising all the driveshafts and hubs were wrong, yet more weeks changing them, all with my trusty argos tool kit.

I forgot to put oil in the engine.
It ran on slop for about 5 weeks then BANG!

you only forget that one once..

VaSteve · 03-07-2006, 08:41 AM

When I have done this, I can hear the hatch rattle when I go over the bumps out the way out of the driveway.