Hi,

2003 Octavia elegance 1.9tdi. Bonnet cable has snapped. I have new cable but cannot open the bonnet to change it. Anyone had same prob or know how to open it?

cheers

You need to go from underneath, it's a PITA and will take you ages. You need to position your hand behind the catch and feel for the latch, then try and flick it towards the battery tray.

You need to go from underneath, it's a PITA and will take you ages. You need to position your hand behind the catch and feel for the latch, then try and flick it towards the battery tray.

thanks for the advice, will give it a try tomorrow afternoon & let you know how i get on

Do you have a spare bonnet grille?

Do you have a spare bonnet grille?

Or can you easily/cheaply get one.....

Or can you easily/cheaply get one.....

update: smashing grille is def a bad idea! once you've smashed it getting a purchase on the torx bolts is very difficult due to the angle. Also they need a good purchase in order to apply enough pressure to get them turning as when fitted they are effectively glued with a sealing compound. Lastly a replacement grille assembly comes in at almost £50! I managed to pick up a new assembly from ebay for £47 but scrapyards are asking £50 for a used assembly!

Next attempt (30 mins ago) was to get the car up on stands and root around in the dark for the bonnet latch. Took a little time & patience but found it and as per Phil-W's advice last night, I flipped it towards the passenger side & soon heard the 'clunk' of the latch releasing. What a beautiful clunk

Thanks Phil-W top advice & wish i'd posted here before smashing the grille in. Definately worth spending a few mins (all be it blind) & root around till you find the spring to latch connection & a little pressure towards the offside does the job!

Now i just got to figure how the cable connets to the latch & i'll be a happy fella!

If anyone has a pic of how the cable attaches to the latch i'd be grateful

I can probably sort you out with a picture a bit later tonight.

I can probably sort you out with a picture a bit later tonight.

Hi thanks for the offer, a pic or two would be really useful. Im after the bit where the bonnet release cable joins the bonnet latch. If its too dark for pic today then tomorow would be fine as ive other bits to deal with tomorrow, i.e oil cooler, water pump, & service. :rain: :rain: :rain: then pours!

Couldn't find my camera when I went out earlier, so will have to be tomorrow now, unless anyone else can up up trumps in the meantime. Sorry.

You can get to the cable front underneath as I am sure I had to do this before. Remove the plastic under covers and you should be able to get up to the top of the rear of the slam panel to get to the bonnet lever

Dam just noticed you already did this..

Sent from my Galaxy S3

Glad you got it, I gave up after 30mins, my father in law actually got it in the end!

Do you still need a picture?

Glad you got it, I gave up after 30mins, my father in law actually got it in the end!

Do you still need a picture?

Hi Phil-w

Yes wouldnt mind picture of how cable attaches to latch. Had a look at it quickly yesterday & wasnt sure and will attempt when i get home this afternoon.

cheers

Bit fiddly but got there in the end with a bit of patience. many thanks for the help

I shall be fiddling with my release mechanism tomorrow, glad I did a search.

Hi there, I have the same problem and trying to get it open from underneath but I don't know exactly what to push. Maybe someone could post a picture.

 

Thanks for help.

It doesn't work like I thought it did. The cable end is like a hook shape but that doesn't release it. That just fits into a fixed bracket and its actually the plastic outer part that pushes and releases it. Quite clever really.

Can I do it by a hand or do I need some pliers?

That's the best I can do. Cable end just goes into a fixed bracket. The outer cable to right in the PIC pushes on that lever that its fitted into. Its that part you need to push to the passenger side of the car. There is a bit of room to get in just try and get a torch in there. I would say a really long screw driver in the mechanism will do. Its quite loose with the bonnet up but It'll probably be fairly tight with the bonnet down. Good luck.