Buggerd Mk2 Punto bonnet catch, what to do?!

[mitchipoo06]

My sister has a Mk2 punto sporting thats been sat unused on her driveway for a few months, the last time she tryed to start it the battery was flat. Which led to her forgetting about up untill last week.

I went round thinking id fetch the battery, get down to the local garage for a swap. Jobs a gud-un so to speak. It didnt quite get that far, i went to the latch under the steering wheel by the drivers door and its just flappy. No resistance at all. I pissed around for a while trying to get at the right angle with a torch to see if i could see the end of the cable, tryed to finger the bonnet catch for a while then gave up....

So, what the next thing to try? The best i can come up with is to remove the catch from its bracket and try to get to the cable with some grips (if it hasnt sprung back up into the engine bay!)

Is there anything i should/shouldnt be doing at this point? Im a bit stuck to be honest, id imagine the bonnet is only designed to be opend from within to stop tealeaves from helping themselves, thus scuppering my attempts to gain entry!

Any hints tips would be much appreciated,
Thanks all! Mitch

[anonymous-user]

I'd definitely stop buggering it, they aren't designed for that sort of stress.

[mitchipoo06]

Haha, thats a great one...

I see where youre going with that, nice.

[wolf1]

Try getting someone to press down on the bonnet as you pull the cable to see if it will release. If not you'll probably have to get in from underneath and try and move the release catch by hand.

[disco!!!!]

just scrap it

[zagato]

Buy a new one.

Catch, or car.

[mitchipoo06]

Thanks for the reply wolf1, ill give that a shot.

Im not sure if i made it clear but the issue isnt the catch, its the cable that has snapped/slipped off its mount on the catch and receded back into the engine bay. Be it an inch or a foot.... im not so sure!

[lost in espace]

Happened to me with a Ren 5 years ago, laid on my back under the wee beast and managed to get the catch with a clawhammer somehows and bob's your uncle.

Alternatively call the AA if you have home cover, if you don't have it take it out then cancel the policy after they drop around and sort it. I am so tight I squeak.

[arguti]

This has happened to me on both Puntos I have owned and usually happens because the end of the cable under the dash “falls out” of its seating on the release handle that you pull.

Unless the cable itself is broken (which has also happened –see claw hammer answer in previous post) the way to fix it is to lie in a very uncomfortable way on your back looking upwards with a torch under the steering wheel/dashboard between your teeth and re-attach the offending item. Takes 2 minutes but is VERY uncomfortable – maybe just for me!

[mitchipoo06]

Cheers for the replies!

Its now been fixed, turns out it was the cable that had just "jumped" out of its slot on the pull handle. I thought it had snapped but once i realy got my head down in a wierd position i could just see the end of it glint, unscrewed the btacket, slipped it back on... Good as new!

Thanks again. Mitch

[fuey12]

I jacked up the car, placed it on a stand on the passenger side, and reached up underneath.
I've videoed it - quick to do once you see it.
http://bit.ly/Yh1dQ9