Bonnet release cable snapped - 1996 classic

[JackReacher]

I’ve just been given a 1996 turbo wagon, my first ever Subaru. It is completely standard and non abused, runs fine but the bonnet release cable has gone and the bonnet is now only held down by the safety catch. Does anyone have experience of this, is this a tricky job?

[vxr2010]

hi it should be easy enough to do it would be a case of securing the new one to the old one , undo the clips holding it and pull it through , the bigger issue is , the catches do not always hold the bonnet down if it lets go you are probably looking at a crash and a new car , if you don't crash when the bonnet comes up it often causes that much damage to roof and pillars it's a write off

[LukeSi]

The lazy option would be to install bonnet pins and just remove the oem catach.

[JackReacher]

vxr2010 said:

hi it should be easy enough to do it would be a case of securing the new one to the old one , undo the clips holding it and pull it through , the bigger issue is , the catches do not always hold the bonnet down if it lets go you are probably looking at a crash and a new car , if you don't crash when the bonnet comes up it often causes that much damage to roof and pillars it's a write off

Thanks, yes not driving it until I can get it fixed, or at least drive to a local garage slowly to get it looked at.

[DuncB7]

vxr2010 said:

the catches do not always hold the bonnet down if it lets go you are probably looking at a crash and a new car

Take my word for it, you want to be looking after your bonnet release/catch. Mine was stuck in the open position; cue bonnet meeting windscreen at a 3 figure speed. The drivers seat was almost damaged too - underpants were a total loss. An experience I can't ever forget.