940 bonnet won't open

GrahBark · Apr 27th, 2009, 21:26

My 940 bonnet will not release on the driver's side; the passenger (nearside) is not stuck and will not lock into the catch. The cable is not broken. This leads me to believe the bonnet pin on the offside has somehow gone down on the wrong side of the serpentine release spring in the panel behind the headlight.

The Haynes manual suggests destroying the headlight to gain access.

This is bound to have happened before with this model - I can't believe I'm the first. Does anyone have any suggestions that does not require smashing an otherwise good (and expensive) headlight unit?

CTCNetwork · Apr 27th, 2009, 21:54

Hi,

You could destroy a perfectly good (and almost as expensive) grill and access that way.

Better try removing the under tray and work out whether your arms are long enough and if you are double jointed enough to reach..
You could actually remove the grill this way - release the two sprung clips and easy the grill out..

I'm sure this must be covered in the FAQ...
/Goes off to look...

Des. . .

Edit:
Try this:
FAQ: Stuck Bonnet Release....

gpl1968 · Apr 27th, 2009, 22:22

Get a friend to help you.
Push down on the bonnet and while it is pressed down, get the friend to pull and hold the bonnet release.
Then pull the bonnet up sharply.
If it dosent work get drunk, then try again.

migrator · Apr 28th, 2009, 09:46

I have done this on a 960. I believe that the bodywork panels and the bonnet closures are the same, or at least similar enough.

Get the front of the car up on ramps (proper ramps or a safe alternative). Remove the engine splash guard tray. This should let you see the clips that hold the grill in place. Push the clips out from the bottom. The grill should now be free and when you remove it you will be able to access the bottom of the bonnet catch assemblies.

I had to work this out because a local dealership wanted to destroy the front of the car to get at the catches because the bonnet pull cable had broken (between the two catches).

The multi person approach outlined above is also a good way to attack the problem.

GrahBark · Apr 28th, 2009, 20:09

Many thanks to CTCNetwork, gpl1968 and migrator for your valuable help with this.

The bonnet is now an opener and its problem was caused by disturbing the two fastenings that hold the release catch assembly at the driver's side when I was doing a job with the radiator. Although the third fastening was not even touched the whole lot must have swivelled out of alignment.

To solve the problem of getting in I used a mixture of all three suggestions and didn't need to get a new headlight!

Again, thank you.

Regards,
Graham

gpl1968 · Apr 28th, 2009, 20:20

A cheap result is always the best

CTCNetwork · Apr 29th, 2009, 00:01

Hi,

Excellent news and keep on rolling...

Sometimes I think some of the Volvo dealers should be looking at these forums more often!

Des. . .

Mike B · Apr 29th, 2009, 09:22

Quote:

Originally Posted by CTCNetwork

Hi,

Excellent news and keep on rolling...

Sometimes I think some of the Volvo dealers should be looking at these forums more often!

Des. . .

What and loose all that easy cash LOL.
Well not so laughable Regards.
Mike B

volvobm · Jun 15th, 2010, 14:50

or when under the car look up behind the grille and pull the cable . after an hour of the ideas it was so easy

Palmer · Jun 15th, 2010, 19:06

When this happened to me, i managed to squeeze the grill out, and undo the grill-side bolts to headlight. Then move it slightly and squeeze my hand in to pull the catch

Apr 27th, 2009, 21:26	#1
GrahBark I've Been Banned Last Online: May 15th, 2024 19:38 Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Halifax	940 bonnet won't open My 940 bonnet will not release on the driver's side; the passenger (nearside) is not stuck and will not lock into the catch. The cable is not broken. This leads me to believe the bonnet pin on the offside has somehow gone down on the wrong side of the serpentine release spring in the panel behind the headlight. The Haynes manual suggests destroying the headlight to gain access. This is bound to have happened before with this model - I can't believe I'm the first. Does anyone have any suggestions that does not require smashing an otherwise good (and expensive) headlight unit?

Apr 27th, 2009, 21:54	#2
CTCNetwork Forum Support Team Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Liège, Belgium View Photos By: CTCNetwork	Hi, You could destroy a perfectly good (and almost as expensive) grill and access that way. Better try removing the under tray and work out whether your arms are long enough and if you are double jointed enough to reach.. You could actually remove the grill this way - release the two sprung clips and easy the grill out.. I'm sure this must be covered in the FAQ... /Goes off to look... Des. . . Edit: Try this: FAQ: Stuck Bonnet Release.... __________________ Density:- Not just a measurement ~ It's a whole way of Life.! ! ! I drive a Volvo, Please Don't Get In My Way! OldVolvos4Ever He shows up. People die. He vanishes. People should not be afraid of their governments. "He'll deliver more justice in a weekend than 10 years of your Governments should be afraid of their people... "V" courts & tribunals. Just stay out of his way." "I plan to." Last edited by CTCNetwork; Apr 27th, 2009 at 21:56. Reason: Added URL

Apr 27th, 2009, 22:22	#3
gpl1968 VOC Member Last Online: May 5th, 2024 23:42 Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Wirral View Photos By: gpl1968	Get a friend to help you. Push down on the bonnet and while it is pressed down, get the friend to pull and hold the bonnet release. Then pull the bonnet up sharply. If it dosent work get drunk, then try again. __________________ Gavin 1997 945 CD (B230FK) [RIP: 1991 945 Turbo (B230FT) 1992 945 SE turbo (B200FT)] Last edited by gpl1968; Apr 27th, 2009 at 22:27.

Apr 28th, 2009, 09:46	#4
migrator Aye - him again Last Online: Today 16:23 Join Date: May 2001 Location: HAWICK	I have done this on a 960. I believe that the bodywork panels and the bonnet closures are the same, or at least similar enough. Get the front of the car up on ramps (proper ramps or a safe alternative). Remove the engine splash guard tray. This should let you see the clips that hold the grill in place. Push the clips out from the bottom. The grill should now be free and when you remove it you will be able to access the bottom of the bonnet catch assemblies. I had to work this out because a local dealership wanted to destroy the front of the car to get at the catches because the bonnet pull cable had broken (between the two catches). The multi person approach outlined above is also a good way to attack the problem. __________________ (Ouch - that's another knuckle ...) VOC 11817

Apr 28th, 2009, 20:20	#6
gpl1968 VOC Member Last Online: May 5th, 2024 23:42 Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Wirral View Photos By: gpl1968	A cheap result is always the best __________________ Gavin 1997 945 CD (B230FK) [RIP: 1991 945 Turbo (B230FT) 1992 945 SE turbo (B200FT)]

Apr 28th, 2009, 20:09	#5
GrahBark I've Been Banned Last Online: May 15th, 2024 19:38 Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Halifax	Many thanks to CTCNetwork, gpl1968 and migrator for your valuable help with this. The bonnet is now an opener and its problem was caused by disturbing the two fastenings that hold the release catch assembly at the driver's side when I was doing a job with the radiator. Although the third fastening was not even touched the whole lot must have swivelled out of alignment. To solve the problem of getting in I used a mixture of all three suggestions and didn't need to get a new headlight! Again, thank you. Regards, Graham

Apr 29th, 2009, 00:01	#7
CTCNetwork Forum Support Team Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Liège, Belgium View Photos By: CTCNetwork	Hi, Excellent news and keep on rolling... Sometimes I think some of the Volvo dealers should be looking at these forums more often! Des. . . __________________ Density:- Not just a measurement ~ It's a whole way of Life.! ! ! I drive a Volvo, Please Don't Get In My Way! OldVolvos4Ever He shows up. People die. He vanishes. People should not be afraid of their governments. "He'll deliver more justice in a weekend than 10 years of your Governments should be afraid of their people... "V" courts & tribunals. Just stay out of his way." "I plan to."

Jun 15th, 2010, 14:50	#9
volvobm Member Last Online: May 5th, 2024 20:57 Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Dublin	or when under the car look up behind the grille and pull the cable . after an hour of the ideas it was so easy

Jun 15th, 2010, 19:06	#10
Palmer Premier Member Last Online: Nov 7th, 2021 02:21 Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Peterborough	When this happened to me, i managed to squeeze the grill out, and undo the grill-side bolts to headlight. Then move it slightly and squeeze my hand in to pull the catch

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