Thank you in advance for anyone's help. I just purchased a 96 xjs convertible with 44,000 miles. I carefully read and understood the technique for opening the hood/bonnet. The first time I opened it, it closed properly and easily. The second time, I started to close it by pulling down on the hood without pushing up to disengage the locking hood strut but didn't pull hard at all. After meeting resistance and remembering what I was doing wrong I stopped and did it right. However, the hood is now angled towards the driver's side, both fully opened and when closed. If you torque the hood in an attempt to get it to close, there is a large gap on the driver's side near the grill. I cannot find anything bent, no metal snapped, no twisted hinges. Just a crooked hood that will not latch. What did I do or what happened to it? Is the problem in the struts (one of them is binding or failing?) I ordered a new pair regardless so that they are fresh. I'm sick over just "ruining" my hood/car and am hoping somebody out there knows of a common Jag problem that fits my situation.

Thanks again-I anxiously await a reply!

Jim

 

Jim, this is my 3rd attempt to post a reply.

2 possibilities here:

1) Your struts have been bent deliberatly to stop the bonnet hitting the head, common caryard fix???,instead of putting new struts on the car, and now they have jammed totally giving your issue.

2) The struts have just plain died and jammed mmmm.

I would remove the struts, and with the help of a second person, try it again. BE CAREFUL, COZ THAT BONNET/HOOD IS HEAVY, AND EASILY DAMAGED.