Bonnet release

[Hawaiis0]

Anyone had experience of fettling bonnet release cables? More so Passenger side. The lever is moving full travel but nothing happening at the latch.

[Hawaiis0]

Left side not actuating, so well stuck. Bonnet had actually sunk into the bay by 5mm it was that well gripped.

Release method was to remove pods, undo bonnet pivot bolts and wiggle. Up she comes like a floating carpet.

Cable not moving at all at the catch end via the lever.

Lever end is moving fine and returning into the sleeve.

[MetBlue]

I had this problem over the winter. Removed cables to oil them, rebuilt and N/S wouldn't pull back the latch.

First problem is that the cable isn't acting concentric as it exits the outer. If you've tightened the outer nut, loosen it again and slap around plenty of sealant.
I actually drilled another hole higher up the arm to give a better line of action in the end.

Second problem is the 180 degree turn the cable has to take as it goes into the bulk head. The inner is smaller diameter than the bore of the outer, so it can just move around as you pull the release lever. Pull the inner through as tight as possible with pliers before clamping the bolt.

Good luck.

[Pete Boole]

I'm going to investigate making a "handed" pair of catches that would allow proper alignment of the cable/arm. I'll let you know what I find.

Pete

[MetBlue]

This pic shows the first problem I refer to and my new hole position.

I'm going to investigate making a "handed" pair of catches that would allow proper alignment of the cable/arm. I'll let you know what I find.

Pete

IMO, the tight turn the cable has to make just before the bulk head is the bigger problem. I considered using a second short cable and a rocking lever behind the glove box to allow both cables to run in nearly straight lines. In the end though, I got the original working again
Tony

[Pete Boole]

OK - I've made a handed one for the nearside - anybody want to try it (my car doesn't have a bonnet to try it on! )? It means drilling a second hole in the body for the cable/ferrule. Maybe a slightly longer cable would help as well - some of Bash's bicycle cable?



Pete

[dancroft1984]

Has anyone tried modifying it at the lever end?
If the mounting point was moved a bit further from the pivot, you might get an extra few mm of "pull".
Haven't yet tried it myself. That's very far down the list of jobs. I just "solved" it by removing the latch plunger from the bonnet on that side. with all the work I need to do to get the car back on the road the bonnet's just there to keep the rain off the engine.

[dancroft1984]

Something I've just tried, but not yet tested because I've put the removed catch "somewhere safe" like an idiot - is to unclip the cable from the cabin end (R clip and a pin), then pull the cable at the bonnet catch end tight and secure, and then re-attach inside the cabin. I'm hoping that will give me about 5mm of "pre-load" so it'll open wide enough at the bonnet end, rather than spending half the movement taking up the slack. When I find it again to test I'll report back.

[Tanz]

Anyone had experience of fettling bonnet release cables? More so Passenger side. The lever is moving full travel but nothing happening at the latch.

This has happened to me twice. In both cases water had got into the cable sleeve and rusted it. Replaced with new sleeve and cable from a push bike supplier.
Part of my problem is that my drive slopes. I park the car so that the front is higher and the fuel drains back, but when it rains and the cover isn't on, or I wash the car, the 'wells' by the bonnet lock fill with water and it runs down the cable. Got to make sre I trn the car around before washing it
I used this
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/231167917682 ... 0380824332 use white so it is easyer to find under the dash! The 'coating' on the inside of the outer cable made the wire move really smoothly.
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/222033936138 ... 0899199868

[MetBlue]

You've just described exactly my circumstances Phil. Slopping drive, park up hill, filled with water - rusts.
Good links to cheep replacements.
Tony