HELP!! can't open bonnet

[budd]

I'm having a major problem with the bonnet catch or the cable, not sure which, the bonnet release is not working infact it's not moving at all, I shut the bonnet and it clicked down as normal now it appears to have seized, I don't think the cable as snapped or the handle would come out with the remains of the cble attached.
How do I open the bonnet ? I'm pullinhg on the release handle and nothing is happening I fear I'm in danger of breaking it !! is there another method of releasing the bonnet clip?

[Ozstyle]

I had a similar problem, the inner cable had siezed with the outer sheath. No amount of pulling the release handle will help. Look up into the footwell and grab the release cable where it enters into the enging bay and pull it as if you were trying to pull it through the inner wing.
Hopefully if the mechanism is ok this will pop the latch.

[Griffithy]

I had similar happen.
As nothing helped I tried to lift the bonnet as high as possible to reach into the engine bay. As thinner your arms the better.
If you find the cable close to the catch, pull it and the bonnet pops up.

The catch is in front of the rh-side wiper.
Cable starts 5-10 cm to the left.

Hope it helps.

[EGB]

When you have got it free, perhaps with lot and lots of soaky squirty WD40 the day before and same again on the day. There is just room to carefully feed the plastic sprayer tube under the lip of the bonnet alongside the wiper boss. It needs plenty of cable lubrication. I also have an easy unobtrusive trick that it will never happen again. A clue in the pics. Good luck. Me Eddie Budd!

Edited by EGB on Thursday 21st June 19:09

Edited by EGB on Thursday 21st June 19:17

[carsy]

As and when you do get in it is worth putting in a second emergency release cable for these such occasions. i fixed an inner throttle cable or bike inner brake cable cant remember which, to the release mechanism and ran it behind the engine and through the passenger side bulkhead / gromet where the wiring comes out of the bulkhead for the wiper motor. The end of the cable is then accessible from the passenger footwell by the battery.

Good luck with getting in let us know how you get on.

[budd]

thanks for the input guys I'll have a look at it tomorrow, hopefully it will be an easy fix.

[jesfirth]

carsy's idea is good - before i converted to bonnet pins and did away with the cable i had a wire tied to the release catch and then just run to the bottom chassis rail beneath - pull it and bingo the catch releases. had to lie on the ground in the rain to pull it though.

[EGB]

Any luck budd?

[budd]

I haven't got around to dealing with yet, but I'm going to fire some WD40 under the bonnet and hopefully on to the catch see how we get on .