I can't open bonnet!

[Web Ferret]

Octy 2008 Elegance estate.

I pull the lever in the car, it moves as normal but doesn't pop the bonnet and the second handle in the grill doesn't pop out.

If I grab the grill handle with a screwdriver - Still nothing.

Its not frozen or anything.

Any ideas or is this a dealer job. If so any ideas if it is a long or short job?

Still under warranty and I could ring Skoda assistance but thought I'd ask on here first.

Edited 16 January, 2010 by Web Ferret

[trundlenut]

try getting someone to pull on the lever and then try and pull up the bonnet at the same time. The mechanism may be a bit stiff and not releasing the bonnet. If this does work, try lubricating the mechanism and it should work as normal.

[vRSLen]

Get a metal coat hanger and pull the release lever

[Web Ferret]

Get a metal coat hanger and pull the release lever

Is that the hook that I can see through the grill?

[K1W1]

try getting someone to pull on the lever and then try and pull up the bonnet at the same time.

It often works better if you push down on the bonnet at the same time.

[Web Ferret]

It often works better if you push down on the bonnet at the same time.

Tried all that - Nothing.

So I phoned Skoda Assistance. They were helpful and said that they would send an RAC patrol within 2 hours.

They then phoned back and said that they had phoned Skoda techical and arranged for a specialist technician but with it being a Sunday it would be later today.

Fair enough.

I'll let you know the outcome when they arrive.

Edited 17 January, 2010 by Web Ferret

[Web Ferret]

Top bloke from VW Assistance came out. He was running late and phoned me to apologise. I explained that it wasn't urgent and he arrived an hour later.

He jacked up car, removed a wheel and well I won't give exact details on here but a few minutes later the bonnet was open!

VW Technician said he'd never seen this problem before - He even took photos to email to his colleagues!

What has happened is that there is a join in the release cable and this had come undone.

He put it back together and put some cable ties to hold it together and advised me to have it replaced under warranty.

I was very impressed with VW assistance. He gave me some amusing stories of recent calls - My brakes don't work and make a noise, My Audi Q7 slipped in the snow it must be faulty!

[Gtandre]

...He gave me some amusing stories of recent calls - My brakes don't work and make a noise, My Audi Q7 slipped in the snow it must be faulty!

[OT]

For the first time in more that 20 years, snow came and stayed here in Holland. Result?

Countless accident, apart form the (sadly) deadly ones, a bloke declared on TV :"i was driving just 40 MPH in the bend and i found myself without apparent reason in a ditch"....DUH!

[GAFF]

Top bloke from VW Assistance came out. He was running late and phoned me to apologise. I explained that it wasn't urgent and he arrived an hour later.

He jacked up car, removed a wheel and well I won't give exact details on here but a few minutes later the bonnet was open!

VW Technician said he'd never seen this problem before - He even took photos to email to his colleagues!

What has happened is that there is a join in the release cable and this had come undone.

He put it back together and put some cable ties to hold it together and advised me to have it replaced under warranty.

I was very impressed with VW assistance. He gave me some amusing stories of recent calls - My brakes don't work and make a noise, My Audi Q7 slipped in the snow it must be faulty!

Which wheel did he remove and where was cable located? Be interesting to know for future reference. Any Pics?

[vRSy]

i know my bonnet release is really really stiff. makes youcringe when it is pulled as it feels like its going to snap

[NeilUK]

Top bloke from VW Assistance came out. He was running late and phoned me to apologise. I explained that it wasn't urgent and he arrived an hour later.

He jacked up car, removed a wheel and well I won't give exact details on here but a few minutes later the bonnet was open!

VW Technician said he'd never seen this problem before - He even took photos to email to his colleagues!

What has happened is that there is a join in the release cable and this had come undone.

He put it back together and put some cable ties to hold it together and advised me to have it replaced under warranty.

I was very impressed with VW assistance. He gave me some amusing stories of recent calls - My brakes don't work and make a noise, My Audi Q7 slipped in the snow it must be faulty!

I had exactly the same problem a day after my bonnet release handle snapped when I needed to top up the oil, fortunately a mate runs a local garage so I was able to get it up on a lift and get my arm up from underneath and pull the cable to open the bonnet from inside the engine campartment.

Upon inspection the connecter joining the two parts of the cable had opened for some reason so we cabled tied it up and had it replaced at a cost of around £75.

Shame it wasnt under warranty.

[Web Ferret]

I had exactly the same problem a day after my bonnet release handle snapped when I needed to top up the oil, fortunately a mate runs a local garage so I was able to get it up on a lift and get my arm up from underneath and pull the cable to open the bonnet from inside the engine campartment.

Upon inspection the connecter joining the two parts of the cable had opened for some reason so we cabled tied it up and had it replaced at a cost of around £75.

Shame it wasnt under warranty.

Thanks I'll get the cable replaced under warranty at my next service in 3 months- Then cable tie it up myself just to make sure!

I now have another problem.

Turned on ignition this morning and before I'd even started it - Bulb warning light!

Side/parking light and indicator out on drivers side.

Edited 19 January, 2010 by Web Ferret

[Maddog43]

Hi everyone, 

 

For those of you who are interested I received a call from my son who owns a 2002 Skoda Superb 1.9tdi, right hand drive (UK model)

 

His problem was his battery gave up so bought a new one but then found the bonnett wouldn't open when he pulled the release handle so 999 call to DAD

 

At first it seamed impossible to get it open, tried through the grill but only suceeded in breaking the gill, tried taking the wheel off, removing the lining panel but still no joy because the rad and cooling fans are in the way.

 

Then had the idea of taking off the lower panel to access the tow point which pulls off in seconds (left side lower grill when viewing from front of car)

Reached in through left side of opening and right up behind the headlight fitting to get hold of the release cable high up above the light fitting (its tight but do able), then made the mistake of pulling on the cable before realising. the outter cable actually pushes the relase catch not pulls it, reached up as far as I could to hold the cable as near to the catch as posssible then with a tight grip on the cable push forward toward the catch, Hey Presto the bonette popped open ;-)

 

Turns out the release handle dosen't pull the inner cable backward away from the latch but actually pushes the outer cable forward toward the latch.

 

If I had done that to start with, I would have had the bonnet open in about 5 minutes and not wasted 2 hours messing about.

 

Hope this helps anyone with the same problem

 

 

 

 

[Sneaky-pete86]

Hi

Having the same problem mentioned above, but on a Scout 2010. 
Seems that the cable has disconnected and nothing happens when I pull the bonnet releaser inside. 
Have managed to take apart lower and partially upper grill. Manages to reach the lock but the underside is protected by plastic. The lock itself sits in the frame and is not visible. I see the short cable and have tried to pull it with a bit of wire but no luck. Also made a hook of a cloth hanger and probed inside the lock in hope of hitting a release tab (inspired from a YouTube), but no luck. 
Any pictures or advice would be to great help! 

[Hingysaid]

SOLVED *** OCTAVIA MK2 2011

 

had the bonnet release go on my octavia and tried just about everything to get it open...

 

1. Offside wheel and liner off, see if I can get access to the cable... Absolutely no access to do this, the location where I suspected the cable had detached was just too far away. 

 

2. Under tray off, no access to the bonnet latch from below. You're blocked by the radiator / hoses and the underside of the front bumper. 

 

Plan B.... 

 

A. Took out the lower black plastic grille (the one that's central and at the same level as the fog lights).. No screws or special tools, it just pulls out with a bit of perauation. 

 

B. This allows you to get your arm up behind the main front grille, use a torx 27 to remove the single torx bolt which is directly behind the skoda badge. The front grill then tips forward and you find its still firmly attached along the bottom edge. You have about 5 or 6 very small torx screws securing the main grille, behind the chrome surround. 

 

C. Carefully remove the chrome surround along the bottom, it clips off... You can then drill out the plastic that the small torx secure into. I used an 8mm drill bit. Once all drilled out the entire grille lifts out. 

 

D. You can see the bonnet catch now, just below it gets screwdriver in to pry down the thick plastic cover beneath the latch. Jam the handle of a screwdriver in to hold this civer open which will will allow you to feel the latch mechanism. 

 

E. If you feel to the left of the mechanism and find the cable running in towards it.. Follow the cable until it meets the latch, on the other side of the stop the cable meets you'll feel a lobe slightly recessed... Get a small screwdriver in front of it and push it towards the windscreen of the car (away from you basically)... The bonnet will pop. 

 

F. FIX THE PROBLEM....  You'll see a small plastic box about a foot to the left of the latch, it junctions the cable. You'll see one cable has popped out. Put it back it then use 3 or 4 cable ties to secure this box firmly closed. 

 

That's it, easy job now I know how. 

 

Hope this helps 👍🏻

 

 

Edited 7 September, 2022 by Hingysaid