General Bonnet cable gone?

[boyracer9474626]

Hi everyone. I went to pop the bonnet up the other day and the switch is completely loose (not stiff like it normally is). I managed to locate the wire from underneath the car and tried to pull it towards the drivers side to pop it open but had no success. Does anyone know if there’s another way I can try and prize it open?

Thanks in advance

 

[the green vanper]

Hello,

I think that someone would be able to help, but there's not a single information about the car model and year...

 

[porta]

Unhook the cable from the ‘pull’ in footwell, just to check it’s not just stretched. If you feel some resistance then get someone to press the bonnet up n down whilst you’re pulling the cable.
If that doesn’t work then it’s back to what you were doing by trying to get to the cable from underneath

 

[boyracer9474626]

Hello,

I think that someone would be able to help, but there's not a single information about the car model and year...

Sorry Fiat Punto active sport 1.2 mk2b

 

[the green vanper]

That's how the Punto 2 lock looks like:

I've marked in red how I think (based on other online photos I've found) the cable goes. As far as I can see, it is in unlocked position.

Once, years ago, beeing in need I've managed to open the bonnet of a C3 laying in front of the car, I've reached the lock with my hand along the radiator and pulled the lever, as the cable is pulling normally. Perhaps you'll be able to do the same?

The cable is normally attached quite high and having in mind that it is hanging on several plastic hooks it could be difficult to pull it enough to unlock.

 

[judderbar]

Hi everyone. I went to pop the bonnet up the other day and the switch is completely loose (not stiff like it normally is). I managed to locate the wire from underneath the car and tried to pull it towards the drivers side to pop it open but had no success. Does anyone know if there’s another way I can try and prize it open?

Thanks in advance

There are some instructions on how to do this that you can get from forum member @dave if you first become a paid forum member by donating to the forum. The money does not go to Dave.

 

[boguing]

@dave doesn't seem to have been around since 2021? I've had the bonnet end of the cable come off.

 

[judderbar]

That's how the Punto 2 lock looks like:
View attachment 442957

I've marked in red how I think (based on other online photos I've found) the cable goes. As far as I can see, it is in unlocked position.

Once, years ago, beeing in need I've managed to open the bonnet of a C3 laying in front of the car, I've reached the lock with my hand along the radiator and pulled the lever, as the cable is pulling normally. Perhaps you'll be able to do the same?

The cable is normally attached quite high and having in mind that it is hanging on several plastic hooks it could be difficult to pull it enough to unlock.

I had a look on my car and tested a method that works

The nipple on the end of the cable slots into the fixed frame of the lock to the right of that coiled spring in the picture. So pulling the cable does nothing. You will need to have a short piece of cable sheath and thread it on the cable pull the cable and push the sheath with your pushing hand as close to the lock as you can get. I am fairly sure the arm that opens the lock is that piece of metal under the coiled spring

 

[boguing]

I had a look on my car and tested a method that works

The nipple on the end of the cable slots into the fixed frame of the lock to the right of that coiled spring in the picture. So pulling the cable does nothing. You will need to have a short piece of cable sheath and thread it on the cable pull the cable and push the sheath with your pushing hand as close to the lock as you can get. I am fairly sure the arm that opens the lock is that piece of metal under the coiled spring

The cable had broken at about 10mm from the nipple, so I was a bit stuffed. I did find a fairly easy way to do it but not sure about putting it out in the open? What do people think?

I'll report my own post to get a mod's opinion...

 

[chevychase]

Post the info up. I've had this happen before and I had to drill holes through the bonnet grill to get a socket onto the lock nuts to get the bonnet open. People really can't be worried about info being accessable to open a 20yr old cars bonnet now can they?

 

[ben]

Indeed @boguing , check your private messages

 

[boguing]

Ok, message checked, read and fully agreed with!

I'll get a couple of pictures and add to the guides in due course, but basically....

The grille under the bonnet edge is pretty flexible. Get yourself a 13mm 1/4 drive socket, a universal joint and a decent extension - say 9". I used a short - about 6mm - piece of flexible hose, but tape would do to wrap around the universal joint to make it flexible rather than floppy.

Ease the gap open with a wooden or cloth-protected lever and wedge it with a piece of 12mm plywood so that with the aid of a torch you can see the two 13mm nuts holding the latch to the slam panel. Now you can open the gap slightly more to get the socket and flexible joint in, undo the nuts and then wiggle the catch forwards off the studs and away you go.

Clean up the catch and lightly oil it. Get some good string. Cut the shaped end off the old cable outer. Tie a figure of 8 knot in the string and trap it into the lever where the outer was clipped, and trap it with that cable outer end you just cut off. Lead the string out through the right side hole where the wire part used to be, across and down behind the grill, tying the loose end off to the grille down there. Now you just yank the string instead of spending ££££ on a new cable.