Bonnet Stuck Closed

[dirtdog 4]

As above..my bonnet is stuck closed, and I can not open it.

 

 

I'd been out on some serious country roads (out and about asking for shooting permisson on farms) and i'd come back with loose tied rod ends, wishbone balljoints loose and a split flexi the joys! Only later did I realise I must have dislodged something to do with the release cable.

 

 

I have tried to get someone to push/wiggle/jiggle the bonnet when I pull the lever to no avail. I've managed to remove my grille and i've had a little poke about with a screwdriver to see if I can push it free but i'm having no luck. I accidentally popped the spring off the latch(which no doubt has only made things worse) when prying around.

 

I've read else where to just push on the bonnet pin and it should pop open but I bent a screwdriver trying to move the pin latch and nothing seems to want to give.

 

Anyone have any advice? Havent been able check my fluids for a week now

 

 

 

As soon as I can get it open I think i'm fitting some aero catchs for less hassle in the future

[jackherer 543]

I've managed to get them open in the past by reaching up between the inlet mani and rad then grabbing the cable and pulling hard.

[Anthony 1,003]

As above - simple on an 8v, much more difficult on a typical 16v install though!

[Slo 283 1 Cars]

pop out nearside headlight easy peasy grab cable behind it sorted

[dirtdog 4]

Thanks guys, i'll try give it a go shortly. It's not a 16v or a gti. it's a STDT...radiators bloody massive so I can hardly get a gnats cock up there let alone my arm lol

[Slo 283 1 Cars]

You wont need to if you take out the n/s headlight and providing the cable is still connected to it

[welshpug 1,657]

and how do you get the headlamp out without opening the bonnet??

[Slo 283 1 Cars]

pull it out, should come out with a bit of wiggling and fingers inside the grill. Mine comes out anyway

[welshpug 1,657]

no chance mine will, you need to lift the headlamp over its locating lugs, and also push the springs back, none of which you can do with the bonnet closed...

[dirtdog 4]

Headlights won't wiggle out. I got this done now anyway so thanks for the advice guys. None of the above worked for me but after a bit of a sweating and swearing my skinny fingers did the job