Need to vent

CliffyBiro · 14 Apr 2011 at 11:17

New car yesterday at 4pm. Pleased with it and was looking forward to getting it dickied up today and spending a bit of time cleaning it up.

8am this morning before I was up, Dad decides to go out and have a look at the engine bay. Doesn't close the bonnet properly. 10:30am today, I get into the car and go off to Halfords for some stuff with him in the passenger seat.

60mph on the dual carriageway. BANG! Bonnet flew up, wrecked the windscreen, and it was all I could do to pull in safely with a Land Rover that was right up my arse.

Bonnet wouldn't go down, was dented, roof dented along top of windscreen, and windscreen will need replaced.

I've had the thing for less than 24 hours and now I'm looking at another bill.

This has been less of a vent than I thought it would be, but believe me, I'm holding back.

Skeeter · 14 Apr 2011 at 11:20

I find a 'popped' bonnet fairly easy to spot... How did you not notice it?

mjt · 14 Apr 2011 at 11:20

Dad pays, simples.

Skeeter said:
I find a 'popped' bonnet fairly easy to spot... How did you not notice it?

Not necessarily. If you don't go round the front of the car and you're not looking for it, it's easy to miss.
I've not closed the bonnet properly before once or twice, but thankfully nothing ever came of it, and I did 80+..

CliffyBiro · 14 Apr 2011 at 11:22

Skeeter said:
I find a 'popped' bonnet fairly easy to spot... How did you not notice it?

The car was parked nose facing the wall in a narrow drive and you couldn't notice it from inside.

Semple · 14 Apr 2011 at 11:23

Ouch

I bet your dad feels pretty bad about that.

Would he be willing to pay for the damage?

DM · 14 Apr 2011 at 11:24

Yea your dads got to take one for the team there and cough up.

rotters · 14 Apr 2011 at 11:32

your lucky that you where able to pull over, this could have been a lot more messy, then think of his guilt.

lucky lad.

rotters

fewfe3 · 14 Apr 2011 at 11:57

rotters said:
your lucky that you where able to pull over, this could have been a lot more messy, then think of his guilt.

I agree here. could have been a lot worse, I would try and make my dad pay if it happened to me. even though he would probably say it was my fault somehow.

Muffin` · 14 Apr 2011 at 11:59

whats your new car, another saxo?

lordrobs · 14 Apr 2011 at 12:03

Odd that it didn't hold on the secondary catch :confused:

CliffyBiro · 14 Apr 2011 at 12:04

Muffin` said:
whats your new car, another saxo?

1.5 DCi Clio

lordrobs · 14 Apr 2011 at 12:28

skippi90 said:
1.5 DCi Clio

I remember a Watchdog episode ages ago with people complaining about that exact thing happening to their Clio's. IIRC it was caused by a failure of the secondary catch. So if the bonnet was firmly shut you were ok, if it wasn't quite pushed down enough the second catch wouldn't hold it. Also IIRC there was a recal by Renault to sort the problem out.

4T5 · 14 Apr 2011 at 12:32

Gutted for you mate I had this happen years ago in a bright red mk1 Escort & I crapped my pantys, I was in the passenger seat & dived into the footwell to be honest.

+

All I saw was everything go Red. :eek:

Glad you got it pulled over safe enough though & whats Dad saying about it all ?

Disco Boy · 14 Apr 2011 at 12:37

skippi90 said:
1.5 DCi Clio

I was waiting for this reply. They have dodgy catches. See if there's a recall on it, if there is then it's back to the dealer (if you used one, if not you've no hope) for money back time.

Deleted member 66701 · 14 Apr 2011 at 12:39

not a mk2 with the bonnet catch issue?

GSDog · 14 Apr 2011 at 12:40

lordrobs said:
I remember a Watchdog episode ages ago with people complaining about that exact thing happening to their Clio's. IIRC it was caused by a failure of the secondary catch. So if the bonnet was firmly shut you were ok, if it wasn't quite pushed down enough the second catch wouldn't hold it. Also IIRC there was a recal by Renault to sort the problem out.

I remember that.

http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/news/autoexpressnews/207915/renaults_clio_recall.html

CliffyBiro · 14 Apr 2011 at 13:41

Hmm, this I did not know about. Yeah it's a 2002.

Just heard the cost of the repairs. Roughy £400 unless I'm lucky and get the same colour bonnet.

bledd · 14 Apr 2011 at 13:50

Surely your dad is paying?

Matt82 · 14 Apr 2011 at 13:51

bet your dad feels gutted. chase up the dealer about the recall too

Firestar_3x · 14 Apr 2011 at 13:55

lordrobs said:
I remember a Watchdog episode ages ago with people complaining about that exact thing happening to their Clio's. IIRC it was caused by a failure of the secondary catch. So if the bonnet was firmly shut you were ok, if it wasn't quite pushed down enough the second catch wouldn't hold it. Also IIRC there was a recal by Renault to sort the problem out.

French build quality at it's best....

I got a letter basically saying they have investigated the issue and it's not Renaults problem, or something along those lines, never got any other info on the issue.

Edit, just found the text:

As you maybe aware, there has been coverage in the media on this subject. To investigate this issue in depth, Renault set up a Task Force of experts. The Task Force have reached their conclusions and as we had agreed, we are communicating our findings with you.

Renault has liaised fully with the independent governing body, the Vehicle and Operator Services Agency (VOSA), on the issue and both Renault and VOSA have concluded that the safety catch and bonnet lock mechanisms of the Clio II have no design or construction defect. The bonnet catch and lock mechanisms are safe, reliable and fit for purpose, providing the vehicle is correctly maintained and that the bonnet is closed as prescribed.

We fully understand that you may still have concerns, therefore we invite you to take your car to your Renault dealer, who will be happy to check the condition of your safety catch and bonnet lock mechanisms as well as to demonstrate how the bonnet should be closed correctly. Also, they will be able to carry out any necessary maintenance if applicable. The checks and any corrective action will be performed free of charge. For information on Renault dealers in your area, please visit our web site Renault UK (http://www.renault.co.uk)

We have instructed our dealer network to check the condition of the safety catch and bonnet lock mechanisms on all Renault vehicles during routine servicing and MOT. A check of the condition and operation of the safety catch and bonnet lock mechanisms is part of the annual MOT test for vehicles over 3 years of age (4 years in Northern Ireland).
As part of our reassurance plan and in co-operation with the relevant authorities, we will write to all Renault Clio II customers inviting them into their nearest Renault dealership, where the safety catch and bonnet mechanisms will be checked to ensure correct maintenance is being undertaken. Additionally, we will remind customers of the importance of following the correct procedure for closing the bonnet and ensuring it is locked, as set out on page 4.02 of the owner's handbook.

Need to vent

Deleted member 66701

Deleted member 66701