Bonnet cable snapped

1. Railroader Established Member Joined: Dec 2009 Bolton Posts: 1068 Saxo 1.4i sx

   #1 8th January 2011, 13:47

   Today the bonnet release cable snapped at the bonnet end. It had opened before it snapped so I got a good look how to fit it.
   
   But I had to close the bonnet again to go to the Trafford Center. So Im going to have to open it by poking a long screwdriver through the grill [Mk1] and moving it to the right. Has anybody done this? got any tips?
2. user_20080 Saxperience Hardcore! Joined: Dec 2007 smurfland. Posts: 17346 Ex saxo owner.

   #2 8th January 2011, 13:50

   Press down gently on the bonnet above where the catch is put your hand under the lip of the bonnet & press the catch up.
   
   
   Steve.
3. Railroader Established Member Joined: Dec 2009 Bolton Posts: 1068 Saxo 1.4i sx

   #3 8th January 2011, 13:54

   doesnt look like there will be enough room to get fingers under the bonnet, especially if its pressed down?
4. danny-vts Saxperience Post Whore Joined: Dec 2010 Chesterfield/Nottingham Posts: 7147 dead vts. twisted 106 gti. '03' vtrrrr

   #4 8th January 2011, 14:05

   just had a quick look on my mk1 , only way i can think of is reach up from underneath the car
5. Tontsy Saxperience Addict Joined: Oct 2008 Plymouth, Fiddling - under a two poster ramp Posts: 14064 Audi

   #5 8th January 2011, 14:07

   im sure a garage could help...oh wait. no.
6. Railroader Established Member Joined: Dec 2009 Bolton Posts: 1068 Saxo 1.4i sx

   #6 8th January 2011, 14:13

   Quote:

   Originally Posted by tonto_VTR im sure a garage could help...oh wait. no.

   Well I asked a Citroen 'engineer' this very morning and he said poke a screwdriver through the grill. Also said it took him hours and was a struggle when he did it.
   
   Err. 'hours' at mean dealer rates? Me cars a write off, lol
7. Bedford126 Saxperience Post Whore Joined: Jul 2010 Morley, Leeds Posts: 8469 Civic ep3 type r powered by TDI NORTH

   #7 8th January 2011, 14:25

   Quote:

   Originally Posted by Railroader Well I asked a Citroen 'engineer' this very morning and he said poke a screwdriver through the grill. Also said it took him hours and was a struggle when he did it. Err. 'hours' at mean dealer rates? Me cars a write off, lol

   you really are a twat. its piss easy to do on a saxo i could do it for you or tell you how but since im in the trade i am not saying a word without charging a fee.
8. Railroader Established Member Joined: Dec 2009 Bolton Posts: 1068 Saxo 1.4i sx

   #8 8th January 2011, 14:38

   Im relaying facts as they occur- explain why this makes me a 'twat' ?
9. Railroader Established Member Joined: Dec 2009 Bolton Posts: 1068 Saxo 1.4i sx

   #9 8th January 2011, 17:36

   Quote:

   Originally Posted by bedford126 you really are a twat. its piss easy to do on a saxo i could do it for you or tell you how but since im in the trade i am not saying a word without charging a fee.

   No answer.
   
   Could I refer you to the site rules regarding abuse? And why there is a banner at the top reminding us of the rules, yet the moderator doesn't do anything about it?
   
   Most odd.
10. Bedford126 Saxperience Post Whore Joined: Jul 2010 Morley, Leeds Posts: 8469 Civic ep3 type r powered by TDI NORTH

    #10 8th January 2011, 17:43

    Quote:

    Originally Posted by Railroader No answer. Could I refer you to the site rules regarding abuse? And why there is a banner at the top reminding us of the rules, yet the moderator doesn't do anything about it? Most odd.

    mite be the fact that the truth is not abuse its just stating the facts.
    as for your bonnet you say that mechanics never do a good job on your car yet you asked a citroen engineer how to sort your bonnet catch?????
11. MartinDines Established Member Joined: Nov 2010 Canvey Island, Essex Posts: 1221 Citroen Saxo 1.4 Furio

    #11 8th January 2011, 17:59

    inb4 infraction
    
    Railroader, if its a mk1 do as Stevo said, it'll pop straight up
12. user_20080 Saxperience Hardcore! Joined: Dec 2007 smurfland. Posts: 17346 Ex saxo owner.

    #12 8th January 2011, 18:09

    Railroader, if its a mk1 do as Stevo said, it'll pop straight up
    __________________
    
    Which is what I was taught how to do when working in a garage.
    
    Steve.
13. danny-vts Saxperience Post Whore Joined: Dec 2010 Chesterfield/Nottingham Posts: 7147 dead vts. twisted 106 gti. '03' vtrrrr

    #13 8th January 2011, 18:20

    how can he open it if there is no cable to pop the bonnet up?
14. user_20080 Saxperience Hardcore! Joined: Dec 2007 smurfland. Posts: 17346 Ex saxo owner.

    #14 8th January 2011, 18:29

    Because your manually doing the job of the release cable by moving the catch with your fingers under the bonnet.
    
    Steve.
15. Railroader Established Member Joined: Dec 2009 Bolton Posts: 1068 Saxo 1.4i sx

    #15 8th January 2011, 18:33

    Quote:

    Originally Posted by bedford126 mite be the fact that the truth is not abuse its just stating the facts. as for your bonnet you say that mechanics never do a good job on your car yet you asked a citroen engineer how to sort your bonnet catch?????

    I was in the Citroen dealers pricing up a new cable, and while I was there I asked for any tips in opening the bonnet, is that ok with you? The reply I gave you word for word. They quoted me £25 for a new one. There is a scrapper just round the corner and I can get one off for a fiver, only I will have to stand in a puddle. So I will leave it till next week.
    
    I have phoned/asked there [Citroen dealers] several times over the years and sometimes its been useful advice. There is one chap who used to know his stuff but I think hes gone now. I have only taken my Saxo there only once, and they misdiagnosed the fault [flat spots, carp mpg], quoted me £420 for a new throttle body and charged me £44 for the priviledge. The problem was in fact a lambda sensor which I did myself. That is not my fault is it? Does it make me a twat?
16. Railroader Established Member Joined: Dec 2009 Bolton Posts: 1068 Saxo 1.4i sx

    #16 8th January 2011, 18:41

    Quote:

    Originally Posted by stevo67 Railroader, if its a mk1 do as Stevo said, it'll pop straight up __________________ Which is what I was taught how to do when working in a garage. Steve.

    Ive just been out to the car now, if you mean the gap between the top of the grille and the bonnet then there isnt one. There is not the slightest chance of inserting a fingertip and the bonnet doesnt press down. Unless mine is different from the others. Although I did repair a minor prang once with a new bonnet. But it doesnt look any different from others. Thanks for the suggestion though.
17. Railroader Established Member Joined: Dec 2009 Bolton Posts: 1068 Saxo 1.4i sx

    #17 12th January 2011, 16:40

    No i've not been trying all this time- it took me 5 mins at most, but I have released the bonnet. The way to do it- for anyone else that has the same problem- is to pull away the bottom of the grille and feed you hand up behind it.
    
    This is for a Mk1, you have to remove the indicator lenses, then pull off the little white plastic clips at the ends of the grille, then gently pull away the bottom of the grill by juggling it and pulling. Then you can get your hand up! It no more difficult than undoing a bra.
18. Tontsy Saxperience Addict Joined: Oct 2008 Plymouth, Fiddling - under a two poster ramp Posts: 14064 Audi

    #18 12th January 2011, 16:53

    Quote:

    Originally Posted by Railroader No i've not been trying all this time- it took me 5 mins at most, but I have released the bonnet. The way to do it- for anyone else that has the same problem- is to pull away the bottom of the grille and feed you hand up behind it. This is for a Mk1, you have to remove the indicator lenses, then pull off the little white plastic clips at the ends of the grille, then gently pull away the bottom of the grill by juggling it and pulling. Then you can get your hand up! It no more difficult than undoing a bra.

    And you would know, how ?...
19. Bedford126 Saxperience Post Whore Joined: Jul 2010 Morley, Leeds Posts: 8469 Civic ep3 type r powered by TDI NORTH

    #19 12th January 2011, 17:28

    Quote:

    Originally Posted by tonto_VTR And you would know, how ?...

    he is use to wearing one on a regular basis.

    1 user thanked this post: Tontsy
20. Tontsy Saxperience Addict Joined: Oct 2008 Plymouth, Fiddling - under a two poster ramp Posts: 14064 Audi

    #20 12th January 2011, 17:30

    Quote:

    Originally Posted by bedford126 he is use to wearing one on a regular basis.

    Careful dude, this might be deemed as cybra(see what i did there) bullying! Lol...
    I luff banter.

    3 users thanked this post: user_36198, Bedford126, user_49133
21. Bedford126 Saxperience Post Whore Joined: Jul 2010 Morley, Leeds Posts: 8469 Civic ep3 type r powered by TDI NORTH

    #21 12th January 2011, 17:37

    love it what's the point in a forum without a bit of transvestite banter.
22. user_49133 Infrequent Poster Joined: Dec 2010 Thanet/Oxford Posts: 249 Saxo VTR Mk2

    #22 12th January 2011, 19:05

    Haha yes!! Banter. Love it