How to open the bonnet on a Freelander 1 when the cable snaps.

Hi to all, I have just spent the afternoon sorting out my bonnet catch. I went to open the bonnet and the handle was floppy as the cable had broken at the bonnet catch end of the cable. After looking at a few forums I was not much wiser, so I looked through the front grill and I could see the operating arm with a return spring. By bending a clothes hanger I was able to hook onto the arm and open the bonnet very easily.

2 tips - one, don't hook onto the spring as I did - it came off and disappeared down between the radiators. It took me two hours to fish it out and refit the spring. Two, unlock the car or the car alarm will go off as the bonnet opens!

I attach photos. The first shows the tool I made with a coat hanger. The second show the bonnet operating lever (top right of photo) under the striker plate as viewed through the front grill.
I hope these help if you have the misfortune to have the bonnet cable snap. Now all I have to do is source a new cable and fit it!!!

On a Freelander Semtex is better.

wammers said:

On a Freelander Semtex is better.

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thanks very much for your hard work in finding how to open the bonnet ,my cable snapped as well and was able to follow your instructions very easy and able to get back under my bonnet did have to remove the plastic cove from the release mechanism ,I just used a long screw driver and hammer to knock the cover off(five rivets two each end and one in the middle ,so thanks once again for your article. Kieron

rager said:

Thanks once again for your article. Kieron

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FOD hasn’t been seen for 2 1/2 years. Well done for using the search bar - it works better if you use it while In here -
https://www.landyzone.co.uk/forum/land-rover-freelander.9/
Any problems the guys n gals in there will help you I’m sure

Thanks for giving thanks where it’s due

Welcome to the forum