Engine lid will not close!

[laneranch]

I have had ny 71 911 less than a week, my first 911, and after imspecting the engine I found the lid will not close. This happened all the time on my 1960 356 cab front bonnet and I just reached in and rotated the ratchet a 1/4 turn and it closed. I couldn't find anything to adjust to close it. There is a rod on the left side as part of the mechanism holding it up but there does not seem to be anything to adjust or release. What is the secret?
Al

[sithot]

Here is the page out of the shop manual. It's a hit and miss and you need to be sure not to go "too far" or you will be in hot water.
The adjustment is in Fig 91 just like the front of the car. The pin is slotted for a screwdriver to bring it in an out and the lock nut is at the top the photo.

Check your bumper stops on the lid to make sure they are making contact but not holding the lid up.

Good luck,

Tom

[laneranch]

Tom,

Thanks for the quick reply. I have no problem with the spring release that uplatches the lid at the bottom and allows it to open up. My problem is that once the lid is up and holding, when I lift it slightly to lower it will not "unlatch" and lower to the closed position. Fig. 90, the last figure which is a photo of the lid shows the pneumatic spring on the left hinge that holds the lid open. My pneumatic spring does not "release" and let the lid down. I would think that there is some way to make the spring release. It seems that it may have failed and have to be replaced? My short term solution was to remove the cotter pin on the back end of then spring and let it drop into the engine compartment until I find the solution.
Al

[Bobs 67S]

Laneranch,

Did you note that the shock for the front lid and rear lid are different part numbers. The rear lid shock is shorter and being only on one side takes less force to make it compress, did someone put a front shock on the rear lid.

Unlike the older 356 lid release that required you to lift it upward to release it's mechanical catch prior to lowering it, the 9 series lid is a shock, it doesn't have a mechanical latch. Just push down to lower it. Hope this helps.

[laneranch]

The rear lid shock is much smaller than the front hood shocks, with each half about 4" long. Has the word "Meistersatz" in white lettering. I'm still a little confused as the shock is permanently frozen in the extended position will not compress. It is currently disconnected from the lid hinge and if I take the end and push it in (toward the front of the car) it absolutely refuses to budge - hence it refuses to let the lid close. If it does not have a latch function like those on 356's that I have owned then what holds the lid up?
al

[M_deJong]

Its a gas strut, just like on the tailgate of your SUV. The gas pressure inside holds the lid up. Almost impossible to compress a good one by hand, but the weight and leverage of the lid allow you to compress it. Usual failure mode is a leak which lets out the gas and then the lid falls on your head. I've never seen one stuck in the extended position. Did you try just closing the lid with moderate (not enough force to bend something!) force?

[RSTarga]

Please let us know the brand as most of the time they can barely lift the lid !
It might be an incorrect part, I'd remove it so as not to distort the lid.

[laneranch]

I went to Pelican parts and the rear lid shock they have pictured is exactly like mine, costs $15. Their brand name is "stabilus"

link - http://www.pelicanparts.com/cgi-bin/...9%2C%20Each%20


al

[boxster03]

or made in China

[sithot]

This is what you need.