Snapped bonnet release cable - Bonnet still locked!

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burtonboy

burtonboy

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burton on trent,staffs (the home of good beer)
Hi folks - not been on here for a long, long time how is everyone?

Just had my first real problem with my 2001 TD5 Disco in 12 months of ownership - the bonnet release cable snapped last night (with the bonnet still locked !!)

I know how to replace the cable & I know about drilling out the rivets that secure the bonnet lock shield & removing the grille BUT - to do all that I need to open the bonnet!

Any ideas or tricks on how to open the bonnet ?

Thanks guys. - Got a long drive at the weekend & I just want to check the levels.

and before the abuse starts ;)- I HAVE done a search & had a good look at similar posts but can't find anything to solve my problem
 
burtonboy said:
Hi folks - not been on here for a long, long time how is everyone?

Just had my first real problem with my 2001 TD5 Disco in 12 months of ownership - the bonnet release cable snapped last night (with the bonnet still locked !!)

I know how to replace the cable & I know about drilling out the rivets that secure the bonnet lock shield & removing the grille BUT - to do all that I need to open the bonnet!

Any ideas or tricks on how to open the bonnet ?

Thanks guys. - Got a long drive at the weekend & I just want to check the levels.

and before the abuse starts ;)- I HAVE done a search & had a good look at similar posts but can't find anything to solve my problem
Click to expand...

Has it snapped at the lever end, if so unclip it and get as much of the outer out as possible, cut it back and pull it with pliers. If its got protection like the transit door locks then it's going to ber a basoored.

Anyway look in through the grille and see if you can see the outer and try and lever it, sometimes this releases it failing that drag the whole outer out and cut it back as before, however I get the feeling it's protected.

Can you get the bonnet up enough to screw the catch off the bonnet, or any of the bolts that hold the lock to the panel, or does the panel unbolt complete.

That's all I can think off, good luck.
 
david451 said:
Has it snapped at the lever end, if so unclip it and get as much of the outer out as possible, cut it back and pull it with pliers. If its got protection like the transit door locks then it's going to ber a basoored.

Anyway look in through the grille and see if you can see the outer and try and lever it, sometimes this releases it failing that drag the whole outer out and cut it back as before, however I get the feeling it's protected.

Can you get the bonnet up enough to screw the catch off the bonnet, or any of the bolts that hold the lock to the panel, or does the panel unbolt complete.

That's all I can think off, good luck.
Click to expand...

I pulled the lever under the dash & nothing happened - it was slack - got pliers on the inner cable & tried pulling, there was some resistance but nothing happened , pulled harder & about 4 inches of cable came out & the end came unclipped from the lever. So now it looks like I've got a cable that's not attached to anything at either end!!

I've tried looking through the grille but can't see anything to get hold of or to lever . I know the whole release mechanism is protected as an anti-theft measure but there must be some way to undo the bonnet.

anyone else got any ideas ?
 
sashtony said:
Is it worth a call to the AA/RAC if your a member,they have 'technical helplines'
They must have had the same situation...
Click to expand...

Yep, I'm in the AA & that was going to be my last resort if I can't get it open by tomorrow night. Not sure they'd come out though as it's not actually a 'breakdown' as such - it doesn't prevent me driving the vehichle - I just can't get the BLOODY bonnet open .
 
My bonnet release cable snapped recently!

I managed to get the bonnet open without removing the headlights or grille.

Facing the car, I peered up through the centre of the grille to where the mechanism is located. If you look closely there is a small gap where you can fit a long screwdriver or similar to slightly prise apart the metal housing.

Once I did this I managed to push the mechanism across which is normally attached to the cable with a long screwdriver and it opened fairly easily.

Now I can get on with bypassing the heater matrix!
 
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