86 TR bonnet doesn't latch

Sometimes the little silver pull latch (inside the car witht he horsey on it) is stuck in the up position. Simply pushing it back down works for me sometimes - I hope yours is that easy!

 

I am not sure if 'bonnet' is the same part in America as it is in the UK, but occasionaly I have problems with both bonnet and engine deck -front and back- on my 87 TR.

What follows is an explanation from someone who is not mechanically-minded:

After raising the bonnet, I pull back the velcro'd carpeting over the cantilevered mechanism (close to the windscreen) which takes the cable from the interior release lever to the two safety catches on either side of the car. The mechanism tends to stick, despite regular oiling. If you use your thumb to push at the small piece of metal which looks like the arm of the lever, you may find that it moves a few millimetres. Just 2 mm is enough to make a difference. Lower the bonnet carefully and then, using the flat of your hand, press that part of the bonnet over the safety catch until it locks. One side, then the other. No point in slamming the bonnet, as I am sure you know, since the safety catch will not engage sercurely.

When closing the engine deck, I find that one side locks while the other remains unlocked. So I lift the unlocked side an inch or two and slam it down. This does it for me.