Passat bonnet lock

brownswiss

Left my 2005 Passat ( new model ) in to VW main agent to get steering fault corrected and full diagnostics. They failed to open bonnet as lock must be faulty. It was ok yesterday. When I pull the handle nothing happens. They said if they try to force open the bonnet it could cost €200 in damage or repair. Not sure what to do or where to start....

Thanks for any help or advice

Ronnie Beck

I'm guessing your cable has snapped. You could check if it just broke off the back of the handle. If so you could pull it with a vice grips. I don't think that there will be enough room to get up between the rad and the engine and open it from underneath by pulling the catch towards the passanger side.

brownswiss

Thanks... must have snapped under bonnet as seems ok at handle..

Ronnie Beck

I never heard of them breaking at the handle but was worth a shot. Don't think there's any other way for security reasons. On some cars with more spacious engine bays you can get up to the catch with a coat hanger.

brownswiss

Thanks.. Is my only option now to force it open ?

George Dalton

Do you have the car at the moment or is it in the garage?

Ronnie Beck

It's probably just the quickest option. That's only a last resort really. There is probably a way to do it without causing major damage. Drill a small hole or start dismantling your way in from the passenger wheel. Does George has a trick up his sleeve...

brownswiss

George Dalton wrote: »

Do you have the car at the moment or is it in the garage?

.............

Car is at home. Was at VW main agent in Sligo when problem occurred. They are not taking any responsibility and said if they pulled and cable broke it could cost me €200.

I think I can hear the cable opening the latch. No movement in bonnet. I thought if I pushed down or pulled up there should be some give

Ronnie Beck

brownswiss wrote: »

.............


I think I can hear the cable opening the latch. No movement in bonnet. I thought if I pushed down or pulled up there should be some give

If it's still all connected you could try disconnecting the cable from the handle and giving it a good hard pull with a vice grips.

Honey-ec

Happened me last year, same model. The plastic housing inside the release lever broke, is all it was. If you pull up the plastic moulding along the drivers seat and into the footwell, you can uncover the release cable and pop the bonnet using a vice grips - there's a little ball at the end of the cable you can grip against.

I just bought a new housing for the end of the cable, think it was about €12.

brownswiss

Thanks for the help. I will try that in the morning