Bonnet closure

I use my bonnet (luggage compartment) daily, and it is as you will know hard to shut, the local dealer said use your knee, but I don't like that, using your hands you generally have to put your hand luggage down and use both hands to press it shut. Has anyone come up with a fix - solution, I've considered a solenoid to pull it shut, something like a soft shut on the up market BMW's ? I could always use a hammer i guess Any ideas Ok I know use the back seat! Cheers AFD

Have your dealer adjust the mechanism. The pressure to shut the bonnet should not take both hands. Once the bonnet/hood is in the "closed" not shut position, one palm or meaty part of your hand placed directly above the lock mechanism (right below the crest on the hood/bonnet) with "firm" pressure should shut the bonnet. I too use it on a daily basis.

One hand on the crest does it for me. A firm push but not to firm.

One hand does it for me too.. What is with these dealers anyway... Is there anything on these cars that isn't "normal"?

I would press just below the badge where the latch is anchored to the hood. Pressing on the badge itself is just asking for a broken badge anyday now

AFD, Under your bonnet lid, on the two front outboard corners are two rubber bumpers that are totally adjustable in height. Mark them first so you have a reference, then turn them clockwise so your lid will be closer to the locking mechanism. The more you turn them clockwise, the shorter they get and lessen the gap for the lid latch to the boddy hook. I'm thinking someone messed with your bumpers. Kids likes to play with them...or some mechanic mis-adjusted them.

on a related note, i can see the stupid red trigger mechanism against the black from about 20 feet: maybe you hit the problem. My other option was to paint the handle black.

Use your knee? Wow, I never thought of that...

My trunk closes in 1 push. Always push below the badge...never on the badge and make sure your compartment lid is properly aligned and both rubber stops rest even with the line of the compartment or slightly below. This doesn't mean that both rubber stops must be set equally.

You should not be able to see that lever. I have to actually lift up the hood ever so slightly to access the lever after pushing the open button. Your hood needs some adjustments done. On another note...everyone realizes that in the fully closed position the leading edge of the hood should be slighty lower than the trailing edge of the front bumper surround, don't they? It should not be perfectly level. There is a good discussion of this on the Tech Section of the PCA site. Improper alignment can cause some wind noise around the cabin.

Seriously the dealer used his knee to close the bonnet, and a premium Porsche dealer at that. I'll try the adjustments, could well be the problem, the red lever does stand out, my badge is dented too, was when I bought the car, nusance is with a dark colour it shows hand prints when you push below the badge, all petty little issues I'll find something more important to worry about - really but love the car! Cheers AFD

More dealer "it's OK" stuff... I had some dealings with the Chrysler dealer on my company car over the last week or two. They were awesome.

mine is not sticking out or anything, but from a lower angle it shows through the lip, the same lip where you stick your fingers through to access the handle. I don't see how it could be invisible and still accessable given the width of the average finger.

Well i went out and screwed the grommets in tight to the hood and it dropped it enough to get rid of the problem. Thanks for this thread; i would never have thought of fooling around with those grommets

I've tried closing the bonnet using my knee for last couple of weeks, and I like it. It's easy to do, you don't need to empty your hands, and it doesn't leave oily prints on the bonnet. Assuming your knees are clean <insert obvious joke here> it shouldn't leave any marks.

One hand on the crest is fine and works every single time!

When I picked up the car the dealership owner happened to be there. He advised me to press on the crest to avoid leaving marks on the paint. Said it was one of the first special Porsche things he learned in the business. As soon as the owner left the (much younger) saleman told me not to do that--the crest can break! Better to press below the crest. Of course I have a clear bra now anyway.....

I AGREE. I've seen a lot of the hood crest get dislodged, their mounting clip broken or worn lose because of that. I press mine directly above where the latch is, about an inch below the crest.

Wouldn't be less costly to replace a broken crest or clips than to deal with paint issues?

I wouldn't think that paint will get messed up closing the hood. It wouldn't be much different closing a door. Hey, every driver have their own preference on how to treat their rides, and I respect that. By the way, Here's what the Owner's Manual says . Pg 117, 2002 Model. "Closing Luggage Compartment Lid and Engine Comaprtment Lid" >Lower lid and let it fall into the lock. If necessary, push the lid with the palm of your hand in the area of the lock.