Spent a few hours trying to work out my service flap.... everything looks to be there, but it doesnt want to lock. My flap wont stay closed . Only way to lock the car is to gaffer tape the flap to the bonnet , not doing so means the flap bounces open and the alarm (luckily its a very feeble alarm - not sure if this is standard or the alarm needs adding to my todo list) goes off. the alarm button seems to be OK, the catch attached to the cable seen in the photo seems to move freely but seems completely out of alignment with the plastic catch. tried seeing if the latch would extend any further but doesnt appear to. The plastic catch on the flap looks ok and also appears to have a washer or two behind it to move it close to the locking pin. Everything seems ok but does not latch. Does this look ok.... unsure what correct setup is ... is something missing ? doesnt look like theres any accident damage .also. Any suggestions ?
Flapping Service flap
- Thread starter tnpali01
- Start date
Proghound
Admin Team
Glad to hear that all the pieces are there and working individually. Possibly the whole flap needs to move slightly to the right (as viewed from the front) within its chrome surround? You can undo the unit from the rest of the bonnet with just two screws for a closer look, you'll see what I mean.
Had a look at the two bolts at either end of the hinge bar piece, but there doesnt seem to be any adjustment or play, and the cover when held shut aligns to bpnnet ok . Im wondering whether the whole unit around the hinge has warped ,or is bonnet fitting out of alignment or sitting too high, should the clip pieces arrowed slide under the protruding lip either side of the dipstick?
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Proghound
Admin Team
I'll have to look at mine in the light tomorrow for comparison. Those square clips can be adjusted up and down the bar as far as I know. It should only be a matter of a few mm. It could even be that the bonnet is not fitting well due to previous damage to the slam panel or the fastenings at the top corners.
George Hogg
A2OC Donor
I’ve had service flaps not hold shut but it was just sticky latches con both cases. One was absolutely solid, the other really stiff. Both freed off with WD 40 and a bit of encouragement.
I don’t know if that’s the issue with yours but if it is it’s an easy fix
I don’t know if that’s the issue with yours but if it is it’s an easy fix
Ive tried pushing the latching piece in and pulling out and it seems to move freely. How far across the slot should it go? Mine appears to be at fully out position in the photo . iIs it meant to extend further ?
George Hogg
A2OC Donor
I’ll take a pic tomorrow and a measurement for you.
Good Afternoon,
These posts on the flap closure and retention often drive me round the bend. It's the words 'latch' and 'catch' which are used in abundance, some authors seems to start off with one meaning, mix them up randomly and I never sure which bit they are talking about, or it me just being thick. This does not apply to you, you are clear with an excellent description of your investigation, thank you.
Having just spent some time looking at various websites on locks, difficult to find a definition of 'latch', and a million and one types of lock complicates, but what is a strong theme is the term 'latch' is the bit that is visible with door/flap in our case is open. Its function is to allow temporary retention of the door/flap in a closed position, moves in and out and can be tested with say a finger to check smooth action. It does seem to be a contraction of the term 'latch bolt', the bolt being inside a lock but to be clear I will mean a 'latch' is the just the bit you can see when open. To try and be clear some diagrams...
In the context of the A2 flap, to be clear, this bit.
(Rant over.)
To eventually get to the point, it is your words 'pulling out' in the sentence 'Ive tried pushing the latching piece in and pulling out and it seems to move freely.' that worries me. The whole point is should not need pulling out, like many latches it is spring driven, it should ping out when your finger is removed from the pushed aside state. Further without the encouragement to remain extended it will be loose with the catch and not retain the flap securely. (I use the term 'catch' to be the bit attached to the flap, bottom left in the last picture, that engages with latch.)
Notice George's reference to WD40. The best thing from memory is remove the latch from its fixing, couple of screws if I remember correctly, which will allow a vertical orientation so the WD 40 can get in properly.
Sorry for the length and rambling but hope something might inspire.
Andy
PlasticMac
Admin Team
IMO, Latch is what it does, (verb). Catch us what does it, (noun).
Mac.
I do see your point, but either word can be verb or a noun. - Andy
Thanks everyone. and apologies if I have confused latching and catching. 
I have removed the two torx screws and detached the latching piece still attached to the cable and left it vertical, then drowned it in WD40. It was moving and springing back freely, sorry if I had misdescribed its movement. it doesnt however appear to extend any further than it did . Im almost at the point of needig to find another A2 for reference just to retain my sanity... something so simple shouldnt be this difficult... .I cant work out how it works... the components just dont seem to align to enable a lock. It was getting dark and cold here so I'l left it for the WD40 to soak and will try and see if it frees up any further in the morning. Doesnt seem to be any adjustment on the position of the latching piece as the two screw holes appear fixed.
I have removed the two torx screws and detached the latching piece still attached to the cable and left it vertical, then drowned it in WD40. It was moving and springing back freely, sorry if I had misdescribed its movement. it doesnt however appear to extend any further than it did . Im almost at the point of needig to find another A2 for reference just to retain my sanity... something so simple shouldnt be this difficult... .I cant work out how it works... the components just dont seem to align to enable a lock. It was getting dark and cold here so I'l left it for the WD40 to soak and will try and see if it frees up any further in the morning. Doesnt seem to be any adjustment on the position of the latching piece as the two screw holes appear fixed.
No worries.Thanks everyone. and apologies if I have confused latching and catching.
Agreed, no adjustment in the latch whose extension seems fine.
A small amount of adjustment in the catch is available, in fact your catch does not seem to be sitting correctly, but difficult to tell from your picture.
If you Google 'a2oc service flap' and click images you will find pictures for comparison, for example this one.
Andy
audifan
A2OC Donor
IF you need adjustment in the latch it is possible to files the holes in the slam panel a little to the left, this will allow the whole latch to sit further left. This should not be required so would look to see if the car has suffered any front end damage of the flap itself is not correctly located onto the bonnet.
George Hogg
A2OC Donor
audifan
A2OC Donor
Believe that some owners put grease on the mechanism if it started to stick. This has the exact opposite effect and made it stick or even jam due to the grease attracting dirt and grit.
If the stroke of the plunger in the latch is good and it still does no engage the catch regardless of the adjustment then there is an issue with the positioning of the service flap either due to damage, incorrectly fitted or not secure. This can happen when people decide to change from a smooth flap to the ribbed type or vice versa as the fasteners fit the other way round.
If the stroke of the plunger in the latch is good and it still does no engage the catch regardless of the adjustment then there is an issue with the positioning of the service flap either due to damage, incorrectly fitted or not secure. This can happen when people decide to change from a smooth flap to the ribbed type or vice versa as the fasteners fit the other way round.
Update : managed to find another A2 owner local to me who I could swap test bonnets with. Anyway having replaced my current bonnet with temporary donor I could close the flap, and open with release, all looked and worked good. Moving my bonnet to the donor car the problem moved there , so the issue appears is with the original bonnet and fitted flap. Nothing obvious bent, or aligned from visual insection, the catch seems to be in exact same position . So clearly something is out of, now though at least I now know issue is the bonnet , just need to find a replacement. On my list still not my priority as still have to replace my wiper arm, fix my reverse lights , a few suspension clonks/ knocks and maybe my EML / dial clock face before i take to the road.
Thanks for the idea, I'll try that .
