Bonnet release cable snapped. Any ideas??

Doesn't take long. I think all told it took less than an hour to replace my cable when it snapped.

A 10mm ratchet spanner is very handy here.

PlattyR56 said:

Doesn't take long. I think all told it took less than an hour to replace my cable when it snapped.

A 10mm ratchet spanner is very handy here.

Click to expand...

did that include trying to open the bonnet by cutting inbetween the spring, dosnt seem much space on a 2005 facelift model ?

No, I didn't have to cut anything. Just slightly wedged one side of the bonnet up with a piece of wood. Then I could see the bolt head on the wedged side with the help of a torch. I could then get the spanner onto the head of the bolt and get a few turns on it. Do the same on the other side and you'll gain enough give to push the wedge in further so you can get the ratchet spanner on, or just persevere with an open ended spanner.

Much easier to do than to explain it.

PlattyR56 said:

No, I didn't have to cut anything. Just slightly wedged one side of the bonnet up with a piece of wood. Then I could see the bolt head on the wedged side with the help of a torch. I could then get the spanner onto the head of the bolt and get a few turns on it. Do the same on the other side and you'll gain enough give to push the wedge in further so you can get the ratchet spanner on, or just persevere with an open ended spanner.

Much easier to do than to explain it.

Click to expand...

a VERY BIG THANK YOU to PlattyR56, just as you said, the only real problem I encounted was when fitting the cable back on the handle end in the footwell was I didn't have the dexterity or patience to put the cable back on, so I removed the plastic handle, I found it easyier that way, apart from not having a thin walled socket, I had to use pointed nose pliers, Thanks again Kwondo, Russell

Kwondo- apologies for the late reply . I was unlucky so it took about 4 hours but i was super careful not to scratch the pain or cut the grille plastic. The pin is also very hard to cut through and if you get the blade out, you might have to start all over again (this happened twice) Plus i had a rounded bolt so took some time to find a solution. Had I been luckier it would have taken an hour or so

So this will be far too late to help the OP etc. but hopefully it might help someone else browsing the forum with the same problem, as I was! On my 51 plate (pre face lift) Freelander 1, I was able to see the black plastic cowl by peering through the top of the grille. A 1" chisel, pushed between the plastic and metal that it's riveted to and a few minutes of grunting and the OS pop rivets broke away. The release lever was then accessible, and I hooked it with a tent peg, pulled and popped the bonnet.

Now to follow the instructions above to fit the new cable!

At least this meant I didn't have to hack through 12mm of metal and buy a new catch too! Hope it works for you.

cmb1960 said:

So this will be far too late to help the OP etc. but hopefully it might help someone else browsing the forum with the same problem, as I was! On my 51 plate (pre face lift) Freelander 1, I was able to see the black plastic cowl by peering through the top of the grille. A 1" chisel, pushed between the plastic and metal that it's riveted to and a few minutes of grunting and the OS pop rivets broke away. The release lever was then accessible, and I hooked it with a tent peg, pulled and popped the bonnet.

Now to follow the instructions above to fit the new cable!

At least this meant I didn't have to hack through 12mm of metal and buy a new catch too! Hope it works for you.

Click to expand...

Please help me. Iv popped the rivets on the plastic panel. But i just dont no which is the release lever your talkin about. I see a bit of metal with a spring attached to it. I tried pushing it. It wont push. Does it have to be pulled. Or what does the release lever look lik. A pic would be perfect or just explain what it looks lik. Iv read through all this forum and one person on about takin bolts off and front bumper etc. It doesnt make sense. So iv the rivets bate out with a chisel of the plastic panel so i can look it. But i just dont no what the release lever looks like that u used a tent peg on. I need this done asap as the jeep needs coolant and oil. Thanks so much for your time

Pull it against the spring

pull the outer cable usally opens it

Style saw works wonders, but as it's Freelander a tin opener should do.

It's easy, with no butchering for the front end needed. The latch that the spring is attached to need to pulled outward, long nose pliers or a tent peg will doi the trick.

PlattyR56 said:

Doesn't take long. I think all told it took less than an hour to replace my cable when it snapped.

A 10mm ratchet spanner is very handy here.

Click to expand...

Thank you Thank you Thank you Thank you Thank you Thank you Thank you Thank you Thank you Thank you Thank you Thank you

It's just taken me less time to open the bonnet than it did to read this thread. No chisels involved. The ratchet spanner set has paid for itself again.

Cable ordered, car parked up for weekend.

well i had this issue i used a crow bar and a big screw driver to sheer the bolts was quick and painless and going to be changing it completely to these !!

cmb1960 said:

So this will be far too late to help the OP etc. but hopefully it might help someone else browsing the forum with the same problem, as I was! On my 51 plate (pre face lift) Freelander 1, I was able to see the black plastic cowl by peering through the top of the grille. A 1" chisel, pushed between the plastic and metal that it's riveted to and a few minutes of grunting and the OS pop rivets broke away. The release lever was then accessible, and I hooked it with a tent peg, pulled and popped the bonnet.

Now to follow the instructions above to fit the new cable!

At least this meant I didn't have to hack through 12mm of metal and buy a new catch too! Hope it works for you.

Click to expand...

Tent peg worked a treat , thanks .

Johnny Handrail said:

Tent peg worked a treat , thanks .

Click to expand...

For future peoples. Freelander 1 pre facelift.
Snapped bonnet release cable.
10mm ratchet spanner/open ended.
Look through the cut out front of the Bonet and then undo the two 10mm bolts that are fixed to the BONNET this will allow to lift the bonnet and access to engine bay.a small screwdriver down the side of the catch spring (careful not to slip) splits the catch in two.
Then lean right over and look under the catch area. Big screwdriver to prize open the black plastic that’s covering the mechanism and there you have it. The hook for a new cable.
Buy a new cable first and then feed it through
Hope this helps, any sugestion is a good one if it works.

Hi, Thank you great thread, but need some additional help if possible please
I have a Freelander 1 TD4, pre-facelift though has additional LR rubber bumper with in built high beam spot lights. I still managed to access locked bonnet with 10mm spanner undoing the 2x bolts on bonnet. Problem I have is that I cant get to the cable. Do I need to break the plastic lower catch cover somehow to give enough movement in the lower catch? I have a new cable and have seen people say to tie string to old cable and pull through, Then pull string back with new cable attached. As its a TD4 cant view lower catch from inside bonnet due to cooler. Really wish to avoid having to attempt to get bumper off as all wheel liner fixings corroded and the additional bumper lights (+ fog light) will need disconnecting and I fear opening a 'can of worms!' Any work around and advice would be appreciated. Thanks