Cable snapped

[mikeyboy2016]

Cable for the latch that opens bonnet in drivers side footwell has snapped and now I cannot get into my bonnet, I've took the grill off but I can't see where the latches are to pop the bonnet open and thus releasing it. Does anyone no how I can release them latches in order to get into my bonnet?

[Worms]

You should be able to pull the lever sideways (to the left as you are looking at it through the radiator grill) where the wire has snapped off.

You should be able to rig a temporary replacement that you can pull down from the gap below the radiator grill until such time as you replace the cable.

Replacement is really easy if you go down the route of just replacing the inner wire with a bike cable, leaving the cable sheath in place.

[bobthecabbage]

Usually people end up removing the latch.

There are three bolts which are thread locked in place.

One is behind a plastic thing, I think there is a clip or something you have to remove and then you have to push the plastic out the way to get the socket on and the plastic will keep springing back.

[Worms]

Originally Posted by bobthecabbage

Usually people end up removing the latch.

There are three bolts which are thread locked in place.

One is behind a plastic thing, I think there is a clip or something you have to remove and then you have to push the plastic out the way to get the socket on and the plastic will keep springing back.

Sorry, yes you are quite right! I think my mind had blocked out the faffing around with a 1/4 inch socket set and extension bar (while trying to not totally knacker the egg-crate grill!) to get in at that last bolt!

[bobthecabbage]

Originally Posted by Worms

Sorry, yes you are quite right! I think my mind had blocked out the faffing around with a 1/4 inch socket set and extension bar (while trying to not totally knacker the egg-crate grill!) to get in at that last bolt!

Yep, it took me quite a while and was extremely frustrating.

I managed to do it through the grill using my 1/4" socket set which has a good selection of extensions, sockets, handles etc.

I do remember loosing one socket inside the bumper somewhere which took me ages to find.

My bonnet still opens via a loop of cable accessed through the bumper!

Also 2 weeks after doing that repair the spring in the latch failed mid MOT!

[Worms]

Originally Posted by bobthecabbage

Yep, it took me quite a while and was extremely frustrating.

I managed to do it through the grill using my 1/4" socket set which has a good selection of extensions, sockets, handles etc.

I do remember loosing one socket inside the bumper somewhere which took me ages to find.

My bonnet still opens via a loop of cable accessed through the bumper!

Also 2 weeks after doing that repair the spring in the latch failed mid MOT!

I did the bike cable repair, but left another cable loop like yours as a back-up as I was not totally convinced the bike cable was up to the job. However the bike cable has held up well and was quite simple to do.

I did totally ruin the grill getting access to the latch and if it happened again I think I might just accept that a new grill is part of the job.