new P38 owner - can't open bonnet!
Discussion
Just bought a really nice 1999 4.6 HSE. Had it 6 days and loving every minute. Battery was a bit dodgy, so put on a good spare one I had and everything seems okay (touches wood at this point). Message appeared today to top up washer fluid, so bought a couple of litres, mixed it up, then tried popping the bonnet.
It opened on the nearside, but no amount of wiggling on the release lever can get the far-side catch to pop. When I changed the battery a couple of days ago, I noted that the bonnet release cable ran close to the securing clamp, so it's possible that I have accidently trapped it or something, but the main thing is how do I get the bonnet open?
Anyone got any suggestions?
It opened on the nearside, but no amount of wiggling on the release lever can get the far-side catch to pop. When I changed the battery a couple of days ago, I noted that the bonnet release cable ran close to the securing clamp, so it's possible that I have accidently trapped it or something, but the main thing is how do I get the bonnet open?
Anyone got any suggestions?
Thanks GKP, tried your suggestion today but what I found as a bit worse than I thought. The two catches both seem to have individual wire pulls both leading from the interior handle. One of these is completely loose, so I guess it's either broken in the middle or detached from the under bonnet catch.
Has anybody got any ideas how I can manually release this catch? Can the grille be detached from the outside, or can it be reached from up under the front spoiler. If anyone is familiar about this area of the car, I would be grateful for your thoughts.
I know that in this case I am effectively "breaking into" my own car, but if anyone knows how, but doesn't want to broadcast it on this forum, I would still appreciate the info by email.
Thanks once again, here's hoping!
Has anybody got any ideas how I can manually release this catch? Can the grille be detached from the outside, or can it be reached from up under the front spoiler. If anyone is familiar about this area of the car, I would be grateful for your thoughts.
I know that in this case I am effectively "breaking into" my own car, but if anyone knows how, but doesn't want to broadcast it on this forum, I would still appreciate the info by email.
Thanks once again, here's hoping!
Thanks for your reply, Lost in Espace, It looks an interesting website, I'll have to spent a bit of time on it. Coincidently, I got a bit of time to look at the problem yesterday and independantly came to the conclusion to open the catch from underneath. Lying under the front, looking up at the slam panel, you can see the release arm that is pulled by the cable. I used a trolley jack handle as a lever and moved the arm to pop the bonnet.
The problem was that the plastic ferrule on the end of the outer cable was broken and therefore not being held still when the release was pulled. Both inner and outer were moving and not the release arm.
It was an old break and a previous owner/their garage had held it in place with a cable tie that had fallen off when I replaced the battery. Replaced cable tie with a new one and job's a good 'un.
Unfortunately (fortunately?) I found the lower offside awash with oil of some sort. Not sure yet whether from power steering or from engine. No evidence of low oil levels, and a bit of a look with engine running showed no spraying out etc. so a bit unsure at present. I will try and presure wash this area at the weekend so it will be easier to trace. Weather permitting as the snow is about to come back!
Thanks again for your support
The problem was that the plastic ferrule on the end of the outer cable was broken and therefore not being held still when the release was pulled. Both inner and outer were moving and not the release arm.
It was an old break and a previous owner/their garage had held it in place with a cable tie that had fallen off when I replaced the battery. Replaced cable tie with a new one and job's a good 'un.
Unfortunately (fortunately?) I found the lower offside awash with oil of some sort. Not sure yet whether from power steering or from engine. No evidence of low oil levels, and a bit of a look with engine running showed no spraying out etc. so a bit unsure at present. I will try and presure wash this area at the weekend so it will be easier to trace. Weather permitting as the snow is about to come back!
Thanks again for your support
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