Tried popping my bonnet yesterday to replace a head light thats gone and I'm struggling to actually get in to the bloody thing.

The cable release is working fine from within the car and the bonnet pops however the handle seated under the bonnet is moving freely and doesn't appear to be hitting the release catch.

Cue much head scratching, anyone else had a similar problem to this and actually managed to get the bonnet open without riving the bonnet?

I've tried getting my hands underneath and trying to trigger the catch but no joy.

The only other thing I can think of doing is getting the car on axle stands, taking the tray off underneath and seeing if I can reach up and release the catch from there.

Any help would be greatly appreciated, I'm heading off up to Scotland on a weeks climbing trip at the weekend and would really like to sort my head light out and put some oil in the car!

Maybe try a long screwdriver and torch between the bars of the grille to push the catch, other than that as you say you would have to try and get it on ramps and attack it from below :thumbdwn:

Yeah I did think that was another option I could try. It was pouring down yesterday so didn't really perserve with it.

I dug my haynes out yesterday to see if there were any decent images of the release catch mechanism so I roughly knew what I was looking for but no joy.

Its certainly worth another try before resorting to jacking the car up!

Edited 18 May, 200917 yr by fatty5000
language timothy lol

I'll take a picture of my locking mechanism tonight and post it if you want? I think the bit where the release handle clips onto the catch is quite high up, that's why it's unreachable with your hand under the bonnet.

I had a minor shunt a while back and the release handle got bent - it got pushed back so the top where it meets the actual release mechanism was pushed forward and wouldn't release the bonnet. Try using a pair of mole grips to pull the handle towards you while wiggling it around and see if it engages.

Its ok, I'll have a look at the missus' fabia tonight and I should probably have a fair idea whats going on with the release mechanism.

Funny you should mention a shunt, I had a fair size rock come through my grille on the motorway a couple of weeks ago and I'm wondering if this has misaligned the release handle. Only just remembered that particular incident.

I'll give it another whirl tonight and report back.

Had that on another octy II and the mechanism was stuck due to grease etc as the handle didn't pop out the front.

Once you can get that and open it up then it's a case of clean and oil it really.

Well just spent about 30 minutes in the rain trying to get this sorted but struggled within only one set of hands trying to hold a light in just the right place and prod around with a long handled screw driver. Think I'll have to rope another set of hands in tomorrow night.

Basically it looks as though the handle has popped off the mechanism completely hence it isn't striking anything.

My main problem at the moment is getting just the right angle to push the latch back.

Mike, did you fix this? I am having this exact problem right now! its weird.

the bonnet gets to its very highest point, but is blocked by something in the lock mechanism, even though the orange handle moves freely. its odd!