Hello all, this is my first post (probably of many)

does anyone know (without cutting through the lid) how I can open the bonnet.
The release lever in the car is loose when you tug it, so the cable must have become detached from the opener at the bonnet end.

I have tried pushing my arm under the car and moving the release lever, but this does not work, no matter how hard I try?

I think I need to do something with the catch (which is tantalisingly close and visible behind the grill)

Any help appreciated.

thanks.

Just to add to my first post, If anyone else is having the same problem, lets work together on this one, there must be a catch that I can force.. or if anyone has a picture of the bonnet latch and how it works that would be great.

cheers.

Hi, my bonnet catch was detached in the cabin end of the cable and was pretty straight forward to repair, however I would imagine that the bonnet catch can be opened from the exterior without going to the lengths of cutting through the metal.

It's too late for me to check the unit tonight, but if nobody else comes back with a reply I'd be more than happy to open the bonnet and see which moving parts are required to be shifted to open etc.

In the meantime if anyone else has suggestions or images then please feel free to jump ahead of me.

From memory (never really spent too much time looking at the bonnet lock) it would be rather difficult to get to from underneath the car, however the grill covers the main catch area and perhaps it is possible to insert something (metal object) through the grill to open the catch.

Good luck in the mean time.

Thanks, I think this may be a good time to invest in the haynes manual.

Only if you can be bothered, just check which part is moving under the bonnet when you pull the latch in the car.

Thanks again

fearing mine would go too i checked the options. remove the front grill, then undo the retaining bolts holding the latch to the front frame. this means smashing the grille but that's what would be done by a garage anyway. or you could try, if there's any cable left on the latch, reaching through the grill with some thin nosed mole grips, and pull it towards the drivers side of the car. other than that you may get away with the long, complicated method. remove the front bumper. it's only held on by four tick bolts you get to from below, the wheel arch clips and the clips on the front lower part of the bumper. it'll take a while, but save the grille. then you can reach the bolts with a spanner.
good luck

I agree with Mong Man, I've had a look at the bonnet catch today and getting through the grill and up to the release mechanism just doesn't seem possible without removing the grill itself. Unfortunately, this means damaging the grill as it is held in place inside the bonnet.

Today I was meeting up with family several hours away so didn't have much chance to look over it, but from what I can see it would appear that you are limited in options.

On a plus side, grills are relatively easy to replace and fit as most breakers yards could supply one.

I'll have one last try tomorrow and photograph the catch.

the grille is held on by five small bolts. it's easy to swap them. if you can wait a week or two i'm buying an aftermarket grille for mine so you can have the old one.

Thanks to everyone for all the replies, I will go and get a new grill and do just that.

Okay, the grill is really easily replaced. I think you would be better going down that route as I fiddled all afternoon with coatwires, screwdrivers and all sorts trying to pull the catch and failed miserably I'm afraid! It seems daft to me that something as vital as a bonnet catch can't be access unless you damage the grill (or remove the bumper - which was a step too far for me).

Think of me, I have an alternator, cooling pipe, master cylinder & earthing strap to fit in the next few days. I wish I was just fitting a new grill! :)

okay, here's a happy snap for you. behold your prize. the cable to the left is the one you want. i believe the bolts are 10mm. good luck

Attached thumbnail(s)

Again, thanks for the assistance - and the Picture.
I will have one more go at releasing the catch, if this fails, I will cut out the grill.

:banana: I got the bonnet open without removing the grill!

There are three bolts holding the bonnet catch to the car body. You can reach one from underneath but the other two are behind the grill 10 mm i think.

I managed to unfasten the bottom one by doing a houdini (if you are built like a gripper, your forearm won't fit), then slid a slim socket extension between the grill bars to get at the other two... job done with just a couple of minor scratches on the grill plate. thanks again..
:banana: :banana: :banana: :banana: :banana: :banana: :banana: :banana:

well done! :beer:

Hi,

Had same problem.
Thanks to mong_man for picture
Also managed open with extention through grill.
Only I managed to use extention to all three bolts.
Lowest one was most difficult one.

Volvo garage quotation was £200.

Thanks all!

Thanks for your help above.

I used the Mr Tickle method to get the bottom bolt and made two small cuts in the grill to get to the two bolts. However, this didn't fully free the mechanisim because it was getting stuck within the car bodywork (see the red lip in the photo above by the top left hand bolt) so you need to make sure you pull it towards you (towards the grill) to unable the bonnet to open (I only found this out after 30 minutes of trying and then taking the electric saw that was still too myside and severing a hand size chunk out of the grill). :gunsmilie: