Bonnet release handle broken

[Guinney1971]

Hi all,

just when I thought it was safe to get the De back on the road ..... :roll:

Pulled the bonnet release under the dashboard this evening, and it went all
floppy in my hand (oo er missus ) and the bonnet wouldnt open :x

Luckilly, I've got the 'remote wing' on my car, and the remote bonnet release
still works, but what a pain in the backside to have go on it.

I'm not sure if the cable has come out of the handle or what yet, I couldnt have a good look earlier as I was trying to keep an eye on my inquisitive
toddler at the same time.

I'm hoping its an easy fix, and not summat expensive thats snapped......

Will report back in due course!

[stunned_monkey]

Didn't you replace your cable with an old piece of throttle cable? :wink:

£2.99 at the local bike shop for a 1.5m generic stainless steel brake cable gets you enough to do two cars - and has a knobble at both ends.

[Guinney1971]

lol, that was the throttle cable that we replaced with a new bit from B&Q for
about £3 5 years ago.

Not sure if its the cable or the release handle thats broken, will try and have a
better look tomorrow (when the Kraken is strapped in her car seat and cant
disappear lol).

If it is the cable, Phill thinks there's a spare one knocking about in the outbuilding
somewhere, if not, we'll pike one down the scrappy on Saturday

If its the handle thats broken tho...... :?

[stunned_monkey]

the lever is just that.... quite difficult to break. Breaking the handle off the end on the other hand isn't tho!

[Guinney1971]

Cheers Martin, well I'll go and have a look in a bit and see whats what.

[Guinney1971]

apolgies for the picture quality, but I just took this picture to try and see what
was broken as I cant get under the dashboard very easily due to problems with
my neck and shoulder after my car accident 4yrs ago.

It looks like the cable has come out of the lever mechanism, but can someone
just confirm this for me?

Much appreciated

[Rich H]

The end of the cable has snapped off.

You might be able to trim it and refix, but probably better to replace the entire cable.

[stunned_monkey]

The outer sheath joins the handle at a dodgy angle, the bracket needs bending back a bit.

Cut the inner cable *cleanly* with a sharp pair of wire cutters at the latch and pull it, and all the frayed bits out from the footwell. Thread a replacement cable in from the latch end.

Again, I highly recommend going to a bike shop (halfords is fine) and buy a generic bicycle brake cable complete with two knobbles. Oh look, I even have one in my pile of bits. 2m long, enough for two cars. Make sure to cut it *cleanly* before attempting to thread it.

[ATTACHMENT NOT FOUND]

[Guinney1971]

Cheers Rich and Martin

We'll get it sorted over the weekend if we get time - luckily I've still got my
remote control bonnet release, so its not as if I cant get under the bonnet
at the moment thankfully.

[RobScott]

if its snapped at the handle end, just get some pliers on whats left, and pull...

[Chris Williams]

Quote:if its snapped at the handle end, just get some pliers on whats left, and pull...

What he said! If it's at the other end thats a lot more of an issue, best bet get another emergency cable on to the relese as well ASAP, but it's usually as Claires has done.

Chris

[stunned_monkey]

The "original" way is to remove the left front wheel and go up through the rubber grommet around the brake m/c. Dont' think this has ever worked for anyone though.

The one time it happened to me, I did it by getting a length of copper pipe, beinding the last 2" into an "L", then carefully flexing the edge of the bonnet up at the left top corner and pushing the rod through to the latch and popping it.

You can also go in from the top middle with a haacksaw blace and cut through the eyelet

[RobScott]

or you could get an angle grinder and cut a section out of the bonnet.... :lol:

[stunned_monkey]

bttf car Wrote:hi guys and girls
yes just had the service done and axle boots replaced £280 later

How on earth did they rush you this much? It's an hour's job if that. not like other cars where the gear oil hits the deck in the process. Just 24 easily accessible bolts and 10 minutes in the bench vice to swap...

[Guinney1971]

RobScott Wrote:or you could get an angle grinder and cut a section out of the bonnet.... :lol:

permission to engage smug mode for having a gas flap bonnet

Oh and btw, I never did get around to fixing this on my car, I'm still using my remote bonnet release :lol: