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Hi all any advice would be greatly appreciated.
My 2001 vw passat has developed a grinding noise, this only happened when I shut the bonet last night, its as if something is catching somewhere, when i put pressure on the bonnet were the catch mechanism is the gringing starts or when I brake hard, I have checked the fan and nothing seems to be catching It only happened after opening the bonnet, it also starts as son as I pull the bonnet release.

any help appreciated.
Thanks

i'd be looking around the timing cover, alternator / powersteering belts / pulleys or if the fan is running.. round the fan...
other than that there isnt a load more that moves, not that you can affect by slamming the bonnet anyway?
definately a grind not a rattle then?
sure you havent left a spanner in there somewhere? i probably would

Yeah it is a sort of metalic rattle but as I say it only realy dose it when breaking hard or pressing down on the bonnet, there is'nt any sign of any covers binding etc.

you havent lost a bolt off the bonnet catch have you and its sitting on the cross member bit between the rad and the grill?
sommats either loose or fell in where it shouldnt..
id be poking and prodding with a screwdriver till i either found it or broke something else
one of those 'anchor' nuts that clip over the edge of sheet steel? usually found near the rad / fan... if a bolts fell out it'll be loose..
dunno mate, try a torch on the job?

cheers mate will just go for a prod its a very unhealthy sound and very irratating.

I've had this before and found that I hadn't clipped the bonnet prop rod into place properly before I closed the bonnet and it was swinging around loose and occasionally one of the fan belt pullys was rubbing on it.
Could this be it?

It could be I cannot see it rubbing on anything,
When the bonnet is up and I press the actual mechanism it even makes a noise then, I'm totaly stumped !!

guessing its the bonnet release cable come out of its clips and rattling against something? pressing the mechanism would loosen it up?
dunno bout hard breaking though? maybe if you find a part of the cable where you can get your hand on it as its threaded through the wing (or wherever it goes) and pull on it, see if it changes or stops?
maybe its dropped down from its usual route and ended up down by the crank pulley or power steering pump right down the bottom, only the vibration is only picked up on the bodywork?