Changing bonnet catches
 

Just a quickie......for a diesel saloon.
To replace the bonnet catches and cables, is this just done from above, or best done by removing the bumper and slam panel?


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You need only remove the bumper Sean, there is no need to remove the slam panel ;)

Brian :D

[QUOTE]Hi Sean.
I would personally remove the bumper and slam panel, you can the route the cables correctly to the catches, the work can then be done on a bench.

https://i.imgur.com/tp9N1ktl.jpg1

https://i.imgur.com/yvwmFXSl.jpg2

https://i.imgur.com/zma4aU5l.jpg3

https://i.imgur.com/Q0nt46zl.jpg4

https://i.imgur.com/pPvrjg2l.jpg5

https://i.imgur.com/uk02Udpl.jpg6

Thanks Arctic,
Makes sense, as It looks as if there are guides for the cables on the underside of the slam panel.


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Changing bonnet catches
 

Phew...job done, but what a faff.
Removing the undertray screws was the 1st hurdle 🙄. Got them off eventually.
Then the torx screws that hold the brackets securing the radiator mounts to the slam panel refused to budge 😡.
Had to resort to just pulling the slam panel upwards until the bracket popped off the radiator rubber mounts 😳.

The new plastic part of the bonnet catches came with brass inserts through which the slam panel mounting screws are supposed to go through.
On each of the catches, one of the screws just wouldn’t go through the insert, so had to remove these.🤔
The original catches don’t have these inserts.

Other than that, bonnet now opens easily so job well done!😄

Glad I took Arctic’s advice to remove bumper and slam panel to route the cables properly.
Edit...I’m not sure why, but I hadn’t seen Brian’s post about only needing to remove the bumper until now.😣😣

Car has repaid me by throwing up a fog lamp bulb failure as I done a quick check of all lights when finished.🙄🙄


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My bonnet lever was stiff so I was worried that something was going to break. I kept oiling both catches which improved it slightly for a while but the lever went stiff again. About a year ago I started to slacken the bolts that hold the catches on and there was a click from the catches so I left the bolts in place semi tight and it has worked perfectly ever since.

FWIW you can route the cables properly with the slam panel in place. Tie string to the old cables when you remove them and then tie to new cables and pull through.
I think with the near side you do need to pull the slam panel up with some force.

There are threads about replacing the cables because they fray and snap so it is a job worth doing

macafee2

Changing bonnet catches
 

Yeah, next time round I would try to do without removing the slam panel, but it was useful to take the slam panel off just to check the routing. It would have been a simple job only for the torx screws securing the radiator mount to the slam panel being seized.🙄
The nearside (long cable) was knackered, as the outer sleeve was worn through in 2 places, making it very “catchy” when trying to pull the cable. Offside (short cable) wasn’t too bad, and would have probably been ok just to lubricate, but replaced it as well when I was at it.
I lubricated both new cables with oil, and put plenty of grease in the catches before I put them on. Hopefully won’t have to do again on this car in it’s lifetime.🤔


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