bonnet release lever not working (HELP)

kikel · 23-07-2006 12:57pm #1

00 OPEL ASTRA
I pull the catch in the drivers footwell. I can hear sound coming from up near the front of the car. unfortunatly the bonnet doesn't pop. It seems the mechaniesm round the front of the car is broken.
Anyone got any ideas how i open the bonnet when the catch doesn't work.

colm_mcm · 23-07-2006 1:03pm

try getting someone to lift the bonnet while you pull the lever.

kikel · 23-07-2006 1:26pm

Tried both leaning and lifting the bonnet. still no joy.
Any other ideas?

mike65 · 23-07-2006 1:35pm

I had something similair once, on a mk 3 Escort. the cable has snapped and to get the bonnet released meant some brutal lifting at one corner and using a screwdriver blade to pop the mechanism. The bonnet never looked the same again.

Mike.

kikel · 23-07-2006 1:41pm

cheers mike,
will keep it in mind as a last resort.

mike65 · 23-07-2006 1:43pm

Hopefully it won't come to that. Can you see anything when peering through the grill?

Mike.

kikel · 23-07-2006 1:47pm

I've had a look at the front plastic grill. I could take it out. It would probably break! But do any astra owners know if this would give me the access to open the bonnet.

kikel · 23-07-2006 1:48pm

Can't see anything peering through the grill Mike.

Volvoboy · 23-07-2006 1:52pm

on the opel astra the bonnet mec is a plunger type that sits into the locking pannel, what has a
happened i presume is that the cable that keeps the bonnet locked has come loose, lookunder the front bumper and see if you can reach under the locking panel then see if you can see a black wire and try pulling at, might be an akward fecker but worth a try.

kikel · 23-07-2006 2:02pm

Right just after being out under the car. Looking from underneath and reaching up towards the bonnet i can reach the insulation on the inderneath of the bonnet itself. I can also touch the bar that keeps the bonnet up, when it is open.
I can't seem to pull back the insulation to reveal any cable to the locking mechanism.

Volvoboy · 23-07-2006 2:12pm

can ya not reach the cable or it wont move?

if ya can reach the cable, trace the cable back to the locking panel there should be somthing there that can be pulled back and that should do the job.

kikel · 23-07-2006 2:20pm

I can't see it. the whole underside of the bonnet has got an insulation layer. I don't seem to have access to anything.

Volvoboy · 23-07-2006 2:32pm

you must be looking on the underside of the bonnet, the locking panel is the panel that sits in between the headlights.

greglo23 · 23-07-2006 2:46pm

Opels bonnet release mechanism is notorious. the usual trick for opening them is to get one person to pump the front centre of the bonnet up and down while the second person pulls on the lever inside. this usually works.

kikel · 23-07-2006 2:59pm

Volvoboy wrote:

you must be looking on the underside of the bonnet, the locking panel is the panel that sits in between the headlights.

Right i can see the locking mechanism. i've started figeting around at it with a stick. I can get part of it to move with no result. The part i'm pushing ithink is the second release after the initial pop.

Will keep trying.

colm_mcm · 23-07-2006 5:50pm

another approach would be to take the bonnet release lever off the dash and pull the cable instead, if the cable has stretched, this will open the bonnet. happened on my 146 years ago

kikel · 23-07-2006 8:06pm

Colm i think, from the sound of it that it's coming closer the the front of the car. Definately worth a try all the same. Will get mhy mate to check it out. it's his car and i'm no longer at his place.

will report back.

Rovi · 24-07-2006 9:52am

colm_mcm wrote:

happened on my 146 years ago

I figure that would be back around 1860 or so. You had a road steamer?

Way cool

Sorry Colm, I couldn't resist :rolleyes:

Oh, and I can be of no help with Astra bonnet release either. Sorry.

tred · 24-07-2006 10:45am

colm_mcm wrote:

another approach would be to take the bonnet release lever off the dash and pull the cable instead, if the cable has stretched, this will open the bonnet. happened on my 146 years ago

all the old opels were notorious for the cable to stretch or break, its hardly happening in the new ones....

colm_mcm · 24-07-2006 12:37pm

tred wrote:

all the old opels were notorious for the cable to stretch or break, its hardly happening in the new ones....

cables will strech!

MercMad · 24-07-2006 2:34pm

Opels bonnet release mechanism is notorious. the usual trick for opening them is to get one person to pump the front centre of the bonnet up and down while the second person pulls on the lever inside. this usually works

............this is exactly correct. Having worked on Opels for 10 years it was aregular occurrence. Its not so much cable stretch as the lack of grease on the mechanism. Someone probably steam cleaned most of it off previously !

The trick is a short sharp blow whilst the cable is being pulled, think of it like you are trying to close a well stuffed boot, and use two hands about 2" apart to avoid denting the bonnet. You want to hit it either side of centre and about 1 1/2" from the front edge !

You can forget about opening from beneath or through the grille !

bonnet release lever not working (HELP)

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