A few days ago the battery on my Skoda Octavia died so I need to open the bonnet to get it out. However due to freezing temperatures and snow, it is frozen shut. The thing is that when I try pulling the lever it doesn't come all the way back (to the point where it would pop the hood) and I don't want to use force due to fear of breaking it.

To make sure the bonnet wasn't iced to the rest of the car, I poured some warm water and de-icing spray all over its edges but it still won't budge open so I'm guessing the issue might be the release and locking system. I know this sounds very suspicious but is there any way to open up the hood of a Skoda Octavia from the outside?

I imagine the lock mechanism may be frozen inside, so all I can suggest is aiming a hairdryer at it as best you can from outside the car...

If you've tried warm water and de-icer already, I might try a hairdryer around the grille area, where the release mechanism is.

Steve

Stereo answers! Hi Steve! :p

Thanks for the advice, I guess I'll give the old hairdrier a try.

take it to the jet wash if you have a garage with a HOT water one and give it a blast

Edited 17 December, 201015 yr by stig1

If you do manage to crack it with the above methods, give it a good coating of grease while it's open Might help to stop it happening again.

take it to the jet wash if you have a garage with a HOT water one and give it a blast

Bit difficult if the battery is flat

...when I try pulling the lever it doesn't come all the way back...

This is a good sign as it tells you the mechanism isn't broken, but is your problem.

Whilst someone is pulling on the release lever push the bonnet down a few times.

The latch doesn't work the way you expect. The inner cable end is fixed and it is the cable sheath that the pushes the release lever.

If there is any ice on the inner cable the release won't work so you may need a hairdryer as suggested, but it is difficult to direct the hot air to where it is needed so it will take some time.

Good luck

Edited 18 December, 201015 yr by rwbaldwin

i think i may of snaped my bonnet release cable :wonder: , so is there a way of opening the bonnet from the outside??

First thing to check is that the inner cable and the sheath are moving relative to each other at the handle inside the car. It's not uncommon for one or the other to come loose?

Sometimes you can get it to open by removing the inner cable end stop from the handle and pulling with a pair of pliers. If the cable has stretched, it often does the trick.

If the cable has snapped or the release fork has broken (corroded) you can get to the release from underneath (with the right tools and the car on a lift).

Chances are the bonnet is not frozen, but is a symptom of the already mentioned issues of, a

Corroded hinge mechanism at bonnet end

cable snapped or come out of it's retaining cradle

You have tthree options if the is the case:

1. As mentioned earlier try pulling the release lever with someone leaning on the bonnet and pushing it downwards

2. Jack car up and from underneath and with a torch look upwards to wear the cable is and you may be able to manually pull it sidewards enough to get bonnet to come open(i have done this before)

3. Smash in the front grill(worst case) to get to the bonnet release mech and remove the torx bolts holding it in place.