Focus RS & ST MK2 Bonnet Latch Fix with Upgraded Part

[@NewKoshin]

Lovely video buddy! I own a st225 which I have always been concerned on the bonnet latch which has caused me to standing in the rain a few times taking far to long to open the bonnet. I found your eBay link and will get one ordered. Seems nice and simple to resolve the issue. Thank you so much 😊

[@CarswithJamesMosley]

No worries mate, glad you find it useful! As some others have mentioned here if you find it stiff when fitted, you may have to shave 2-3mm off to get it perfect, but this can be done easily if needed 👍

[@NewKoshin]

@@CarswithJamesMosley finally got round to doing this today! And I found out as you said the part does need to be cut down exactly like you said. Works perfectly now! Just another comment if anyone is ready and needs further advising you need to cut the bit down slightly!

[@CarswithJamesMosley]

@@NewKoshin nice, thanks for letting me know and glad you got it sorted 😁

[@th3maklif3]

I've just replaced mine so big thanks. I tho rather than cut it done put spacers between the locking mechanism and car body which does the same effect just moved he bonnet latch 2/3 mm out towards engine so the part is made smaller as it was too stiff.

[@davecooke914]

Many thanks I have just bought one you put my mind at rest I have right part great video 👍

[@CarswithJamesMosley]

No worries enjoy your car 🙂

[@jjmmjj9999]

Nice video, However this is only one cause! The other being the shaft itself not turning freely (the stiffness you mentioned possibly) If the shaft doesn't turn, and is seizing inside the casing this replacement won't help unfortunately, as the shaft is worn you cannot turn it enough If, however the plastic is broken this is definitely worth doing. Saves time and money I'm going to have to replace the entire thing on my st225, but I'll be putting my original lock barrel in the new part just so I haven't got to carry round an entire key and can use the valet key in the bottom of my fob

[@CarswithJamesMosley]

Thanks mate, very interesting! The Mondeo latch kit is also another option that I'm considering for myself at some point to future proof the whole thing.

[@jjmmjj9999]

@@CarswithJamesMosley I did consider that, but it's a faff and you have to ruin the bonnet catch area to accommodate the lever... plus fishing the cable through is just agg! I took my lock out today and mine does turn freely (holding the barrel in mole grips and turning with the key, turns the white collar as expected with no resistance) so it looks like this cross shaped plastic would work absolutely fine for me! Also, you can pick up anew cable and barrel with a key for about £15, and apparently, you can drill the rivets out of the lock barrel, and swap your original one in, and use the original ford key exactly as you would... for the sake of £5/or £15 i'll definitely give it a go. plus the seller states a 3 year warranty.... so worst case it's cost me £5 a year and has to be replaced again... now to sort the coolant leak and exhaust manifold gasket and i'll be done with it (for now, until she decides to break something else)

[@adyg8221]

That was my issue so I’ve ordered one of the metal ones of Ali express like a lot of people have done. Just replace the old lock for the new one no cutting like mondeo lock. my rs has had 2 locks now hopefully the metal one lasts

[@johnbevan7157]

Great video, ordered this myself for my mk2 RS 🙂

[@CarswithJamesMosley]

Thanks mate hope you found it useful! 👍

[@laurencelagden]

I found if you fit it without cutting it down to the length of the original it holds the mechanism apart slightly which then stops your grille sitting properly.

[@CarswithJamesMosley]

Yeah a few people have mentioned this and it seems that sometimes you need to cut it down a little for a better fit.

[@davidwood4271]

Brilliant video will be ordering one 👍❤️

[@CarswithJamesMosley]

If it ends up a little stiff, you can trim 2-3mm off the end and it's perfect 👍

[@davidwood4271]

Just fitted mine work's perfect thanks for sharing this with everyone ❤️

[@CarswithJamesMosley]

@@davidwood4271 great news and no problem! Did you need to trim yours down a little or was it good already?

[@davidwood4271]

I took a very small amount of with sandpaper

[@CarswithJamesMosley]

@@davidwood4271 perfect, cheers for letting me know!

[@LeeJohnson-v1k]

Hey James , on watching your video I decided to get one of those white ( longer) plastic updated part. There was nothing wrong with the oem one but just as a precaution I wanted to fit (or tried to fit) the updated one before the oem one broke. I pulled out the latch unit which had the original pastic one in it but for the life of me I could not get this plastic part out from the latch unit. How on earth did you remove it?

[@CarswithJamesMosley]

Hey, because mine was slightly worn it would have come out reasonably easily. However, you should still be able to pull the original part out with a pair of pliers I should think, even if yours isn't worn.

[@LeeJohnson-v1k]

@@CarswithJamesMosley Thanks for your reply. Tried pliers and gave it a strong yank a couple of times but it did not budge🥴. Gave up as I did not want to cause any damage .🙄

[@CarswithJamesMosley]

@@LeeJohnson-v1k I take it you could see one end of it once you removed the latch? Maybe your clips are just in really good condition and are nice and strong still 👍

[@CAMORAITALIA]

good video, but unfortunately for the part, there is no delivery to France😢. Too bad for the rs team

[@CarswithJamesMosley]

Ah that’s a shame. As an alternative you can try the Mondeo conversion but it’s a bit more involved to fit a conventional latch.

[@hotrodda]

Please help me my mk2 rs my bonnet won’t open you didn’t say how you did it!!!and it’s locked shut how can I get it open please I’m stuffed

[@CarswithJamesMosley]

You need to remove the Ford badge first then basically use a big screw driver to break the original mechanism/white plastic bit. Once you have cleared the debris, you can use a long screwdriver essentially as a key to unlock the bonnet. Hope you get it sorted 👍

[@jamesdowns458]

Good vid but do yo have the link for the focus mk2 bonnt catch

[@CarswithJamesMosley]

Yes mate, in the description 👍

[@nathand3599]

Great vid bud, do you have a link for this?

[@CarswithJamesMosley]

Thanks mate! Here is the upgraded part that I used to fix my bonnet latch: ebay.us/4KLaVI (affiliate link - thanks in advance for your support!)

[@richardlumb3354]

Hi,how long in mm was that new piece ? Thanks

[@CarswithJamesMosley]

Hi Richard, unfortunately I didn't measure the new piece before fitting, and it doesn't appear to show the size in the listing. However, myself and few others on here appear to have found the cutting off a small amount (2-3mm) from the new piece helps it to be a better fit and less stiff to turn. Mine feels like the original now.

[@jjmmjj9999]

Believe they're 8mm