help! my bonnet catch has broke on my astra!

NICKYB

hi guys, picked up a 2.2 astra cab for the mrs last night and had the bonnet open twice and if was struggling to open on the catch, but now it won't open at all, the cable inside (under dash) is slack on the handle, either stuck from rust in the cable case or has broke, anyways how do i get the bonnet up?

thanks

Martyn

thru the grill m8........ you will have to break it that's the only way i know or if u can go from underneath which i doubt

BURT150

Ihad the same problem on my old astra van. i used to get someone to hold the bonet down(pushing down on it) then id pull the lever inside and get them to let it go it was a bit of a job to get right but it worked for me.

NICKYB

Martyn said:
thru the grill m8........ you will have to break it that's the only way i know or if u can go from underneath which i doubt

that was my plan but was hoping there was a less damaging way!

NICKYB

BURT150 said:
Ihad the same problem on my old astra van. i used to get someone to hold the bonet down(pushing down on it) then id pull the lever inside and get them to let it go it was a bit of a job to get right but it worked for me.

this is how i was doing it but its jammed solid now, this tech don't do owt, i'll get a new cable monday just wondering the best way to get in?

blue_se2

try and disconnect the handle in the car so you can pull the cable further when it is open you can adjust the cable so you may not need a new one??

NICKYB

blue se2 said:
try and disconnect the handle in the car so you can pull the cable further when it is open you can adjust the cable so you may not need a new one??

had some grips on it mate, won't move at all! i'll get the cable then proceed to smash the grill out!

Martyn

Ahh sorry to hear this m8

si_c1978

if you pull the handle off the wall of the footwell you can move it forwards and use the underside dash for leverage to pull the handle, as grips alone wont be enough, (all about fulcrums n all that crap)
i thought mine was fucked but it was just a clip somewhere between handle n bonnet that had come off,
my handle just free roams on the end of the cable handle works fine

MikeS

the grille is made out of plastic so it shouldn't have to worry about damaging the bumper or bonnet

i would use some mole grips and try get it levered or get someone to hold em in your car then push and pull the bonnet at the same time first though

can u see the the metal clip or cable from looking underneath

NICKYB

MikeS said:
the grille is made out of plastic so it shouldn't have to worry about damaging the bumper or bonnet

i would use some mole grips and try get it levered or get someone to hold em in your car then push and pull the bonnet at the same time first though

can u see the the metal clip or cable from looking underneath

tried loads of ways today, its fully f**ked!
just ordered new cable so, if not before next weekend i'll smash through and replace it!

thanks for the help guys!

sdbutler10

woo woo woo hold it there.
i had teh same problem the other month.
no damaging grills or anything.
what happens is the cable come off the catch and obv cant pull it.
so what you need to do is as followed.
its a right pain in the arse and take a bit of time but can be done.
go under neath the car.
you need a scoket cant remeber size think its a 7 or 8mm and a long extension maybe a few.
there is a little black box that prtect the catch systm under neath to stop people opening the bonnet.
if i remember right there are 2 or 3 blots under neath and 1 on top.
undo the one under neath(it does take time) once they are all off u then need to get ur arm up and yank the black cover off its hard but once off you can pull the catch from under the car and walla it open 😃
i hope this helps

Martyn

sounds like a right pain but worth the try if you dont break anythin

si_c1978

id listen to scott (sdbutler) mine has done the same and ill be rectifying my free roaming cable now i know what it is(Thanx! :mrgreen: ) taking the handle off the side wall with the cable still in it, using the under side of the dash for leverage ll get her open tho.

NICKYB

sdbutler10 said:
woo woo woo hold it there.
i had teh same problem the other month.
no damaging grills or anything.
what happens is the cable come off the catch and obv cant pull it.
so what you need to do is as followed.
its a right pain in the arse and take a bit of time but can be done.
go under neath the car.
you need a scoket cant remeber size think its a 7 or 8mm and a long extension maybe a few.
there is a little black box that prtect the catch systm under neath to stop people opening the bonnet.
if i remember right there are 2 or 3 blots under neath and 1 on top.
undo the one under neath(it does take time) once they are all off u then need to get ur arm up and yank the black cover off its hard but once off you can pull the catch from under the car and walla it open 😃
i hope this helps

cheers mate, i'll try that then!

NICKYB

si.c1978 said:
id listen to scott (sdbutler) mine has done the same and ill be rectifying my free roaming cable now i know what it is(Thanx! :mrgreen: ) taking the handle off the side wall with the cable still in it, using the under side of the dash for leverage ll get her open tho.

thought yours did work? (thats what you said in the last reply)

and NO if the catch has come off, no amount of levering it on the dash will do it!

si_c1978

it does work i have to have the whole assembly with the cable in it hanging free of its mount then i can use the dash as leverage to put the whole assembly on to use the handle as normal. me mate did it for me hes got a clapped out corsa thats bin like it for ages.

NICKYB

si.c1978 said:
it does work i have to have the whole assembly with the cable in it hanging free of its mount then i can use the dash as leverage to put the whole assembly on to use the handle as normal. me mate did it for me hes got a clapped out corsa thats bin like it for ages.

what i ment was, if you can get in why do you need to lay under car to undo the bolts etc. and if your clip has come off the catch, no matter what you did it wouldn't work! yours is more liking to have streched or seezed inside!

si_c1978

aaah right i see sorry! :oops:

Martyn

SMASHHHHHHHHHH THE GRILLLLLLLLLLLLL lol