Cleaning and maintenance

Opening and closing the bonnet

~2min read

Fig. 190 In the footwell on the driver side: lever for releasing the bonnet

Fig. 191 Release lever for opening the bonnet above the radiator grille

First read and observe the introductory information and safety warnings

Opening the bonnet

  • Ensure that the windscreen wiper arms are positioned on the windscreen before opening the bonnet .
  • Open the driver door and pull the release lever in the direction of the arrow . The bonnet is released from its lock by a spring mechanism .
  • Lift the bonnet at the release lever (arrow) and open fully. The bonnet is held in the open position by the gas-filled strut.

Closing the bonnet

  • To close the bonnet, pull it down to overcome the gas strut pressure .
  • Let the bonnet drop into the catches from a height of about 30 cm – do not press it down!

If the bonnet is not closed, open it again and close it properly.

The bonnet sits flush with the body parts around it when it is closed properly. The indicator lamp in the instrument cluster will no longer be lit up .

If the bonnet is not closed properly, it can open suddenly while you are driving and completely obscure your view of the road. This can lead to accidents and serious injuries.
  • After closing the bonnet, always check that it is properly secured. The bonnet must be flush with the surrounding body panels.
  • If you notice that the bonnet is not closed properly while the vehicle is in motion, stop the vehicle as soon as possible and close the bonnet.
  • Therefore the bonnet should only be opened or closed when you are sure that nobody is in its path.

NOTICE

  • The bonnet should only be opened when the wiper arms are flush to the windscreen in order to avoid damage to the bonnet and the windscreen wiper arms.
  • Always return the windscreen wiper arms to the windscreen before starting your journey.

Test yourself

A quick Volkswagen Golf quiz: every answer comes with an explanation and a link to the manual page.