hopefully a quick easy fix....

[methodwares]

My bonnet lock twisty knob under the dash won't turn. it is unlocked and i pulled the rear engine cover thing off to get a better look behind the engine. there is nothing i can see that would prevent it from turning. pushing / pulling on the two rods in opposite directions didn't help. and there is nothing i can see binding the rods.

Is it possible to get into it to see what is wrong? or is it possible to get a replacement?

thanks

[SimonKD]

Hi John

It's a simple fix but a swine to get at. It involves being upside down in the drivers footwell with your head down by the pedals. The aluminium handwheel passes through a collar. This collar has a tapped hole in it at 90 degrees to the handwheel shaft. In this tapped hole sit a grubscrew, a small spring and a ball bearing. The spring pushes the ball bearing into slots on the handwheel shaft when it is fully clockwise or anticlockwise and the bonnet catches are fully in or fully out. Slacken the grubscrew to take some pressure off the spring as it sometimes can jam in the slot. You may end up removing the grubscrew, spring and bearing altogether in order to apply grease to the bearing. With this lot removes make sure you have full travel with the bonnet rods moving fully in and out as the handle is turned. Now the hardest bit. Put the bearing, spring and grubscrew back in slowly tightening the grubscrew whilst trying the handwheel. Too loose and the handwheel will turn and bonnet will open when driving, too tight you will get it jammed again trying to undo the bonnet.

Good Luck and Happy Contortions
Regards
Simon.

[methodwares]

i haven't done yoga for a couple of years, but hopefully i will still be flexible enough. i had a look at that knob under the dash last night. the grub screw you speak of is not, i'm guessing, the long one that sticks out but one that sits recessed into the shaft.

[SimonKD]

Hi John

Yes, it's the recessed one you need to be dealing with. Good luck.

Regards
Simon.

[kevin63]

5mm Allen key is required if I remember right.

[methodwares]

done... thanks all