Omega Owners Forum - Bonnet release cable broken.

Shelby

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Sleaford, Lincolnshire
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Drives: Mini facelift, 1999 2.0l CDX

Bonnet release cable broken.
03. Apr 2011 at 09:24

Is there an easy way to open the bonnet with a broken bonnet release cable?

It went yesterday evening and having had a look at it this morning it is still attached at the handle in the drivers footwell, so can only assume either the cable itself has broken somewhere or come off at the bonnet end. However, having never had to deal with this particular problem on any car before I am unsure how to go about it.

Any hints, tips, thoughts or ideas welcome. I suspect it would be reasonably easy to do as long as you can get the bonnet open first, however I have no idea where to start to do that!

Thanks

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« Last Edit: 03. Apr 2011 at 10:32 by Shelby »

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Jimbob Global Moderator Admin Team Offline Third nipple removal completed succesfuly Posts: 20462 Chester / Flintshire Gender: Drives: 52 3.2 MV6 Estate & 98 3.0 MV6 Manual Estate	Re: Bonnet release cable broken. Reply #1 - 03. Apr 2011 at 10:32 I think this will involve smashing a hole in the grille sorry. Not something Ive had to sort though.
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Brikhead Senior Member Offline Sleeping. Do not disturb. Posts: 940 West-Mids. Gender: Drives: Rusty bag of $h!t.	Re: Bonnet release cable broken. Reply #2 - 03. Apr 2011 at 11:23 Are you sure it's broken? Get someone to push down on the bonnet as you operate the lever in the car. If you do end up having to smash the grill then I have a mini face lift grill for sale...
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chrisdb Intermediate Member Offline Posts: 339 Chesterfield Gender: Drives: '99 3.0 Elite	Re: Bonnet release cable broken. Reply #3 - 03. Apr 2011 at 11:25 The only way I have found is with the front grille removed (or if you cut a hole in it). You can get your fingers on the release lever and pull it to the side to release the bonnet. On mine I had to also push down on the bonnet at the same time to release some pressure.
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Shelby Intermediate Member Offline Posts: 277 Sleaford, Lincolnshire Gender: Drives: Mini facelift, 1999 2.0l CDX	Re: Bonnet release cable broken. Reply #4 - 03. Apr 2011 at 11:51 Not really the answer I was looking for haha, but if thats the case I will have to look at that. Ill give it a go with someone pushing down on the bonnet etc and see what I can do. Thanks
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Andy B

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Bury Lancs
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Re: Bonnet release cable broken.
Reply #5 - 03. Apr 2011 at 12:05

Shelby wrote on 03. Apr 2011 at 11:51:

Not really the answer I was looking for haha, but if thats the case I will have to look at that.

Ill give it a go with someone pushing down on the bonnet etc and see what I can do.

Thanks

It's unusual for the cable to break, what normally happens is that the clamp on the slam pannel (under the plastic trim) slackens its grip on the outer sleeve of the cable. Wink

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Shelby

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Posts: 277
Sleaford, Lincolnshire
Gender: male

Drives: Mini facelift, 1999 2.0l CDX

Re: Bonnet release cable broken.
Reply #6 - 03. Apr 2011 at 14:38

Problem sorted, wasn't the cable after all, even though it wasn't working at all when I originally posted.

I got my daughter to try the cable as I pushed down on the bonnet, however when I first pushed it down it gave an audible click and then the release seems to work fine. So it would appear that it hadn't actually clamped down closed correctly (or something like that) even through the bonnet appeared to be closed and wouldn't.

Thanks for the replies, it's something I will certainly remember for the future in the event of something similar happening.

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Jimbob Global Moderator Admin Team Offline Third nipple removal completed succesfuly Posts: 20462 Chester / Flintshire Gender: Drives: 52 3.2 MV6 Estate & 98 3.0 MV6 Manual Estate	Re: Bonnet release cable broken. Reply #7 - 03. Apr 2011 at 15:01 well done, this may be of use then... http://www.omegaowners.com/forum/YaBB.pl?num=1256423143
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jerry

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Re: Bonnet release cable broken.
Reply #8 - 03. Apr 2011 at 23:23

certainly a pain when the cable gets slack! I did mine following the link last year but obviously not well enough Grin

as it still happens every now and again, and always at a time when 1) I really do need to get the bonnet up and 2) my better half -or anyone else for that matter-isnt about to help me and push down as I pull the release lever. Be ok if I had really long arms Grin

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Jimbob Global Moderator Admin Team Offline Third nipple removal completed succesfuly Posts: 20462 Chester / Flintshire Gender: Drives: 52 3.2 MV6 Estate & 98 3.0 MV6 Manual Estate	Re: Bonnet release cable broken. Reply #9 - 04. Apr 2011 at 07:57 If you still have problems and the cable is ok...could well be the spring is bent from 'over pulling', or worn from use. About £3 for a new spring, and we are waiting on a how2 being produced.
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Brikhead Senior Member Offline Sleeping. Do not disturb. Posts: 940 West-Mids. Gender: Drives: Rusty bag of $h!t.	Re: Bonnet release cable broken. Reply #10 - 04. Apr 2011 at 08:52 jerry wrote on 03. Apr 2011 at 23:23: ..help me and push down as I pull the release lever. Be ok if I had really long arms One of my old cars used to be the same, I could get it open by pulling the lever in the car and reaching through the open door to smack the bonnet at the same time.
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Brikhead Senior Member Offline Sleeping. Do not disturb. Posts: 940 West-Mids. Gender: Drives: Rusty bag of $h!t.	Re: Bonnet release cable broken. Reply #11 - 04. Apr 2011 at 08:55 Andy B wrote on 03. Apr 2011 at 12:05: It's unusual for the cable to break, what normally happens is that the clamp on the slam pannel (under the plastic trim) slackens its grip on the outer sleeve of the cable. Are you sure? I've sold two cable/lever assemblies so far...
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Andy B

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Bury Lancs
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Re: Bonnet release cable broken.
Reply #12 - 04. Apr 2011 at 09:20

Brikhead wrote on 04. Apr 2011 at 08:55:

Andy B wrote on 03. Apr 2011 at 12:05:

It's unusual for the cable to break, what normally happens is that the clamp on the slam pannel (under the plastic trim) slackens its grip on the outer sleeve of the cable. Wink

Are you sure? I've sold two cable/lever assemblies so far...

because the cable or the handle had broken? Or it could be because someone assumed the cable had broken & bought yours before they'd looked? In 30+ yrs of car ownership I've never had a bonnet release cable break .... Undecided

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Shelby Intermediate Member Offline Posts: 277 Sleaford, Lincolnshire Gender: Drives: Mini facelift, 1999 2.0l CDX	Re: Bonnet release cable broken. Reply #13 - 04. Apr 2011 at 09:48 Ill have a look a look at it and possibly adjusting a bit this weekend.
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