Bonnet release

[Jubes]

Hi All,
Is there a special technique to opening the bonnet?

I ask because my release mechanism is extremely stiff and requires an awful lot of effort to release.

Are there any potential problem areas with the system which I need to be aware of please?

Many thanks in anticipation.

[C3BER]

Stiff knob?

[Jubes]

In my first draft I actually called it the bonnet release knob!

[C3BER]

There was a very good thread about this subject not so long ago. Have a look, I'm sure your answer will pop up.

[Ireland]

Oil all the moving parts and pivot points.

No need to oil your knob though.

[optimax sniffer]

Try adjusting / shortening the rod length. Check that the nylon ends are fully on the rods, and not working their way off.

[C3BER]

optimax sniffer said:

Adjust the rod length fully working it off.

:getswarningfrombigal:

[jackwibble]

You need to check the locking nut on your knurled knob as too much friction will cause a very stiff catch and unlatching issues however under no circumstance lubricate as knob slackness could cause unlatching at high speed when jiggling ( something that can happen quite often in a Cerb) and this is not good!!

[Mr Cerbera]

Sorry, am in the same position with my knob.

IT TRANSPIRES THAT tvr HAD SEVERAL SOLUTIONS TO MAKING KNOB ACCESS ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE.

Sorry for shouting !

I noticed how easy it was to get at you knob-base at Spa, Optimax Sniffer

[Jubes]

Thanks all for the replies.

Well I went to try and adjust the bonnet release grub screw today and failed miserably.

The garage that I keep the Cerbera in has no electricity so I had to use a torch which died after only 10 minutes of trying to get to the grub screw. (It's so damn awkward trying to get in to a position where you can reach the thing)

I decided I'd best wait until tomorrow armed with fresh torch batteries.

So I then proceeded to put my tools in the boot of the car and forgot to put the allen keys in so I tried to reopen the boot (which I'd closed very softly) and absolutely nothing happened!!!! No solenoid noise, no boot opening - nothing!!!! The doors and windows still open fine.

Has anybody got any ideas as to what the problem could be please? (Should I have slammed the boot closed - I'm clutching at straws now.)

So I'm now stuck with a car that I can't open the bonnet or boot on - great.

Any help would be very much appreciated.

[dempsey]

I had this problem until I was shown the technique of alternately pulling the knob outwards and pushing it inwards (ie along the line of the shaft) whilst trying to turn it. Works every time now.

[Jubes]

Hi dempsey,
Thank you for the bonnet opening technique information.

I'm hopeful that with the grub screw adjusted and using your technique that I can fix the bonnet opening problem.

I'm less sure of where to start on the boot opening issue though.

It's an even bigger issue with me needing to fill up with petrol very soon.

Any thoughts on potential fixes would be much appreciated.

[C3BER]

Take your car to an indie to help you with that one.

[kevin63]

On the knob there is a grub screw with a sprung loaded ball in the end of it (you can't see that bit), this gradually can screw itself in and tighten up the knob movement. Get a 5mm Allen key and back this grub screw off slightly (anti-clockwise) and you should then be able to move the knob from side to side to enable the under bonnet rods to move.

[Big Al.]

C3BER said:

Take your car to an indie to help you with that one.

Agree, now you've found the answer to the bonnet problem, I would doubt any owner on here would be silly enough to supply emergency entry information to someone who was only just joined and 13 post to his name.

So suggest the Indie route.