Good morning,

 

when I release the bonnet catch with the lever  in the passenger footwell, it does the initial release ok, but when I go to the front of the car, I can't raise the bonnet.

I have to get a second person to pull hard on the leaver, to let me do the second release.

 

Any ideas of a solution.

 

Thanks

Edited 17 August, 20196 yr by richard999
Spelt lever with an "a" .. must be Brexit

Spray the bonnet latch mechanism with plenty of WD40, then keep open/ close until it works properly.

 

Then spray mech with some grease.

Thanks

Spraying the bonnet latch mechanism as recommended will work fine if that's the problem. It's also easy to detach the latch mechanism and clean it properly with a wire brush etc. (it's only 3 torx screws from what I can remember).

 

But once the latch is released from inside the car (by pulling the lever), you shouldn't need to pull the lever again (and pulling it again will make no difference if the latch mechanism is gunked up). But the lever mechanism (a pulley or whatever it is) has been known to give problems as well, and spraying the latch won't resolve that.

 

It's more than likely just the latch, it's just when you say that you have to get someone else to pull the lever a second time to release it that doesn't sound quite right. Definitely take the latch off if yo ucan, clean it up and grease it, and see how it works afterwards, If you're still having problems with the lever mechanish though, you probably need to take it to a garage. But in my experience, the lever either releases the latch or it doesn't - I don't know that it can sometimes only "half release" it or anything (but I'm more than happy to be corrected). I think that's what you need to establish.

 

I think I remember posting on here before about getting the latch to release when you can't get it to open with your fingers (basically a long screwdriver or rod and gently push the latch to the side to get it to release), but if I haven't then definitely someone else has, so have a search and a good read.

Thanks Declan.

what I meant by saying I have to get a second person..... is that while they pull back on the lever, I operate the lever at the front of the bonnet.

 

Aside from the bonnet latch, I'd check that the cable moves freely inside its casing. The fact that you need someone to pull on the release lever while you operate the latch suggests that the cable might be sticking inside the outer. Unfortunately, the only way to fix this properly is remove the whole mechanism and spray oil/grease into the cable outer while working it back and forth until it frees up. IIRC there's a coupling in the cable somewhere inside the bonnet area where you can split the cable: maybe start here and free up the section down to the latch first.

 

IMO the bonnet release latch is one of the least well engineered parts of the car when it comes to user interaction. It just feels sticky and horrible when you pull the release lever, even when it releases properly. It feels a lot like the mechanism is too flexible so that bits of it deflect when you pull the lever leading to a spongy feel. At some point I plan to take a good look at it and see what's going on with it.

Had an AA man out to mine. We could see that the catch was not releasing because the flat stop on the bonnet was not proud enough to allow the catch to release. He believed the original surface had come off as couldn't see any adjustment. Suggested a superglued piece of plastic (approx 2mm thick), like a piece off a cable tie. I have had no problems since.

Thanks Dougal