So the other day, the "check engine oil" message flashed up on my dash.  Later that day, when the car was cold, I decided to check and top-up the oil.  I pulled the bonnet release lever in the passenger footwell, but the bonnet did not pop open.

 

I've owned the car for 6 months or so now and have had the bonnet open 2 or 3 times to refill the screenwash so I know it was working.

 

I've given the bonnet a good pull upwards, i've pressed it down and everything inbetween, but I can't for the life of me get it to open.

 

I'm concerned about driving the car with too little oil so want to get it checked, but can't get in there to do so.

 

Any advice would be awfuly apprecited.

 

Pete

The actual bonnet release mechanism is well hidden for security reasons, and when the release cable snaps it's a pig to get the bonnet open. 

When you pull the release lever, does it feel like there is some resistance, i.e. it feels like the release cable is still in one piece?

If so, get some WD40 and using the red extension tube spray under the front lip of the bonnet and leave it to soak in.

NOTE: Only do this with a cold engine, the last thing you want is fire under a bonnet that wont open.

 

If the release level feels slack, it's a garage job.

Was the passenger door open? The release won’t work if the passenger door is closed.

17 minutes ago, Igdos said:

Was the passenger door open? The release won’t work if the passenger door is closed.

 

OP has already said they'd filled screen wash up a few times previously so must already know this.

On my old golf GTs it was a pain to get the bonnet open some times. It was put down to the cable stretching, how old is the op's car?

6 months old? I'm guessing it's a long slog to the dealer? Otherwise let them deal with it 

There will be a way to open the bonnet from the front of the car. When my Golf bonnet release cable snapped there was a little tab through the grill which you could lever over with a screwdriver to open it. It stayed like that for about 3 years until i got round to fixing it 

17 hours ago, MoggyTech said:

The actual bonnet release mechanism is well hidden for security reasons, and when the release cable snaps it's a pig to get the bonnet open. 

When you pull the release lever, does it feel like there is some resistance, i.e. it feels like the release cable is still in one piece?

If so, get some WD40 and using the red extension tube spray under the front lip of the bonnet and leave it to soak in.

NOTE: Only do this with a cold engine, the last thing you want is fire under a bonnet that wont open.

 

If the release level feels slack, it's a garage job.

 

Thanks! WD40 on it, got a friend to pull the lever whilst I jiggled the bonnet and hey presto, we're open.

 

Many thanks for your suggestions people

A bit late now,  but waiting for Low Oil warning lights or messages is not 'Simply Clever' especially given what the Owners Manual says on 'Driving in cars' & the 

Then in the oil checking section,

'May use as much as ,,,,,  more in the first 5,000 km  etc etc

 

Then on the Manufacturers Warranty the 6 month  / 6,500 mile  exclusions and stuff, 

So report the bonnet pull and have the Dealership adjust the cable maybe.

 

 

example.

Edited 22 July, 20187 yr by Offski

1 hour ago, PTR101 said:

 

Thanks! WD40 on it, got a friend to pull the lever whilst I jiggled the bonnet and hey presto, we're open.

 

Many thanks for your suggestions people

That's good news. You will probably find that the release mechanism on the bonnet landing panel is gummed up with crud. Road salt get's stuck in there during the winter, so a clean up and re-grease  once a year helps. I use white PTFE grease.

2 hours ago, MoggyTech said:

That's good news. You will probably find that the release mechanism on the bonnet landing panel is gummed up with crud. Road salt get's stuck in there during the winter, so a clean up and re-grease  once a year helps. I use white PTFE grease.

 

Mine is completely crudded up with salt, sand and gunk. Would seem wise to proactively do it off the back of this thread now, instead of waiting till it doesn't open. Cheers 

Edited 22 July, 20187 yr by ahenners

On 22/07/2018 at 13:50, toni8b said:

What is that?

2 minutes ago, gregoir said:

What is that?

Our lass when I ask for 'special cuddles' 

...I've heard of putting a Tiger in your tank, but that is ridiculous!

its a possum powered vRS?

 

i had a similar problem with the bonnet release and the cable had unclipped itself near the release handle, theres a holding catch for the cable just behind the trim near the BSDs it had worked its way out and needed popping back in.

Edited 28 July, 20187 yr by JohnnyType2

Went to top up the washer fluid in my car today, pulled the lever, head a 'pop', assumed it had released the catch holding the bonnet down, but when I went around to the front of the car the bonnet hadn't 'popped up'. 

 

When I tried the release lever again there was no 'pop' this time and while the lever doesn't feel lose, it doesn't appear to be having effect on releasing the bonnet.

 

How much of a pain in the arse is this likely to be, and how easy is to remove the trim in the car to see if the cable has popped out of the lever?

Right, disaster averted.

 

The trim piece that runs from behind the bonnet release and along the door sill looked non-trivial to remove, but by removing the trim piece above (between the door and end of the dashboard) I could behind the bonnet release lever, and see that the end of the bonnet release cable was still attached to the lever.

 

Once  I was sure the lever had been pulled I applied a little upward pressure to the front of the bonnet and it popped up allowing me to open the bonnet. Once open it was obvious the retaining catch was stiffer in operation than it should be, but after a little WD40 and clean up, normal service has been resumed. 

How do you release the bonnet if the cable has come loose or snapped. On my mk2 i had a snapped cable which needed parts of the bumper removing from underneath  by the dealer to get to the lever and open it. Is the mk3 jusy as bad ?

I agree with others to keep the catch clean and lubricated .

Cheers

3 minutes ago, 3rdoctavia said:

I agree with others to keep the catch clean and lubricated .

 

Agreed, I'm considering this an early warning. Every time I open the bonnet, the catch will be getting some attention.