Tried to open the bonnet on my Fabia tonight and it only opened to the first phase where the tongue should protrude from the grille. Notice "should," mine does not and I think it might be missing completely.

The other night I was checking the oil and I when closed the bonnet I thought I saw some thing shoot out from the grille when I dropped it the final four inches, at the time I never thought anything of it although I did have a quick look around but couldn't see anything as it was quite dark (the garage was just closing and had their canopy lights off). I just thought I had imagined it and carried on (as you do) but tonight I was going to have a look at something else and it dawned on me when it didn't stick out that's what it must have been.

So now the fun starts, how do you get it opened without the tongue to act u ate the locking lever?

Anyone, Please!

Why is the censor ****ing act u ate?

Edited 20 June, 201214 yr by Coffin Dodger

Happened to me once when replacing the front grille and forgot to refit the leaver

Got around the problem by using a metal coat hanger

Flatten the coat hanger so that it looks like a ultra thin and long 'O' that will fit through the hole in the grille

Feed it through the hole diagonally to the left and angled up to the underside of the bonnet, needs to be pushed in a least 4 or 5 inches

Carefully move it to the right until you feel it catch on the bonnet lever then gently pull towards you.

Took me about 2 or 3 mins to unlock mine but I did have the advantage of remembering what it looked like because I have taken the grille off quite a few times.

Might take you a bit longer but it will work

Karl

Happened to me the other day, above headlight get your fingers in and pull up on the bonnet, it should pop. i also had tried putting a small flat head screw driver into where the 'tongue' sticks out and i pulled it out manually. Once open i greased and moved all the mechanism parts and it now seems to be working fine.

As said, it's possible to open with out that, as I've had to do it when I forgot to reconnect after removing the grille.

I just resorted to shoving my arm up as far as possible to reach for the lever.

Thanks folks! I'll let you know how how I get on.

Update

Once it stopped down I was able to get a quick shuftie.

A friend with a Fabia had let me have a look at his so that I would know exactly what I was looking at and for, so, (I had ordered a new lever from my mate in TPS just to be on the safe side) had a look and the red arrow part of mine had broken off. That's what I saw go shooting away the other night, any-hoo, the remains of the lever that it was connected too had jammed behind the grille slats.

Fortunately there was enough play with the bonnet opened at the first phase position to get my hand in (fortunately I have small hands for a guy) and free it off, then redirect it forward between the slats and using a pair of long nosed pliers, grab and pull to release the bonnet completely.

Two minutes with the 8mm socket and a ratchet, one old gubbed lever off and nice new lever put on and nipped up. Quick spray of white grease to eliminate any other potential jamming problems and job done.

Thanks for all your info fellas!

Edited 22 June, 201214 yr by Coffin Dodger

As said, it's possible to open with out that, as I've had to do it when I forgot to reconnect after removing the grille.

I just resorted to shoving my arm up as far as possible to reach for the lever.

No way I could reach it softscoop, in fact just as well it broke the way it did, it made the job fairly straight forward, thank goodness.