i own a focus millenium 1800 zetec and the bonnet release catch doesnt lock. when i close the bonnet the 1st stage closes but the 2nd stage doesnt lock the bonnet down. has anyone had the same problem.

if i have to replace the whole item do i have to replace the whole thing inc the key fob - then how do you remove it without removing the radiator and air conditioner matrix.

Any help appreciated

paul cadman, February 2008

My bonnet wouldn't open, had it open 2 weeks ago no probs but wouldn't open this week so I took it to a garage in Filey, North Yorks, was told it would be a 2hr job and they'd done loads. they had problems, had the car 9am thursday, phoned friday eve to say ready monday and will be £280, car's not worth it, wouldn't you think the garage would know that?

Daz, Scarborough, February 2012

Stuck lock, bonnet won’t open ,,,
You do not need to drill holes in the grill or pay ford £200+
DIY..How?
Look into the grill at the top you will find the bottom of 6 plastic revscrews, 4 you get two via the grill slots use a chisel and cut them off, Then one either end of the grill. Place the chisel between two plastic layers, gently lift , check and cut, one each end.
With a wiggle that’s the top loose, There are two clips holding the bottom in place Put your fingers through the bottom slot in the grill, push down clip and greatly pull the grill, do both sides, It won’t come right out but your aim to loosen it., The lock is held in place in a sleeve with a plastic clips each side, you have push the barrel with a suitable item, this is to push it out of the sleeve and out of its housing, It may need a tap!!
Gently wiggle and pull the grill off

Lock
The lock is a ‘lock barrel along a shaft to a white plastic coupling’ this fits in to the ‘bonnet lock’
The security is at the coupling to bonnet lock in the form of a cross shaped plastic key
The key is fitted and held in place in the coupling, and when installed it’s fitted in to the lock, and once it’s in the lock part it will not come out, so therefore any jolt, pull, movement dislodges the plastic key from the coupling side and due to its design it will not slot back in so the lock barrel just rotates
To open you have to apply pressure on the shaft towards the left and into the coupling and turn the key in the lock barrel at the same time in a aim to get the coupling to catch the plastic key (take a few minutes) but it opens in the end if this is the fault, (alternatively remove the two bolts that hold the bonnet catch to the bonnet)
Once bonnet open remove the bonnet lock mechanism, then with draw the lock barrel, shaft, coupling, By looking in side you will understand regarding the cross key
Anyway you need to remove one of the catches from the side of the plastic key This way it will fit back in to coupling.
Reassemble
This is a brief description But the cost to me was 45 minutes, £2 for a pack of plastic rivets / screws, and I cached my bumper with the chisel £5 for a touch up stick Total £7. Well worth the time and effort and So much better than being ripped off!

phil, November 2009

Thanks for advice. Same problem with Ford Galaxy. Was sceptical that a bit of WD40 would sort it but gave it a good spray and ..bingo! Bet the garage would have ripped me off!

Alan, January 2009

check that catch is not stuck in the retracted position including the handle in the car sticking, spray the catch with wd 40 and the surrounding areas that rub together,watch the action of the catch while someone operates the handle
try adjusting the position of the big striking pin by using a LARGE flat screwdriver turn pin about half a turn ANTICLOCK WISE tighten the lock nut afterwards.

wirecutterman, February 2008