V12V bonnet wont open - what have I done?

[Graze01]

So I've been installing some driving lights, which involved removing the slam panel & grille - easily done, thread here https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...

all going well, bracket fits perfectly and holds lights firmly in place behind the grille. I closed the bonnet without the slam panel in place and now I cant open it

the bonnet release handle still operates, the wire is taut, but it doesn't "free" the first catch on the bonnet. I can get to the safety catch and the tab to release it but cant really reach the main latch & bonnet catch

any ideas on what I need to fiddle with to open it?

is it a result of the slam panel not being in place (Cant imagine why?)

thanks in advance

Graze

[Jon39]

Oh dear.
Houston, we have a problem.

Now you mention this, I vaguely recall someone here mentioning slam panel and bonnet closing.

All that I can suggest Graeme, is that if you bring your car to England, it would then be upside down, so gravity might somehow open the bonnet. 




( Euston railway station in London is closed this weekend. A newspaper could not resist the headline , 'Euston, we have a problem'. )

Edited by Jon39 on Saturday 8th April 07:51

[bennno]

Graze01 said:

So I've been installing some driving lights, which involved removing the slam panel & grille - easily done, thread here https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...

all going well, bracket fits perfectly and holds lights firmly in place behind the grille. I closed the bonnet without the slam panel in place and now I cant open it

the bonnet release handle still operates, the wire is taut, but it doesn't "free" the first catch on the bonnet. I can get to the safety catch and the tab to release it but cant really reach the main latch & bonnet catch

any ideas on what I need to fiddle with to open it?

is it a result of the slam panel not being in place (Cant imagine why?)

thanks in advance

Graze

Can you angle grind a hole in the bonnet to see what’s going on underneath?

Possibly bonnet dropped too low, try two people with one doing release handle and the other jiggling the bonnet ?

Edited by bennno on Saturday 8th April 08:02

[Graze01]

bennno said:

Can you angle grind a hole in the bonnet to see what’s going on underneath?

Possibly bonnet dropped too low, try two people with one doing release handle and the other jiggling the bonnet ?

Edited by bennno on Saturday 8th April 08:02

bennno

fortunately your second suggestion worked & I didnt need to resort to the angle grinder

thanks

Graze

[john ryan]

Without the slam panel, the bonnet springs have nothing to push against, so the bonnet will not pop up - so a manual lift is necessary

[Crusader]

Find a friend to pull the bonnet release handle open and hold open position until you lift up the bonnet. I made the same mistake whilst replacing the thermostat. No need to panic.

[Graze01]

all sorted

thanks John for the explanation

Graeme