Bonnet release Broken/Stuck or Slack

Samuelle · 3rd September 2008, 23:31

I've been pulling the bonnet release rather than the boot since I've had my ZT, due to giving it a full service in short bursts, so at the shops and in a hurry yesterday I pulled the wrong lever and popped the bonnet.
The bonnet didn't want to shut again, so being in a hurry I just smeared a bit of grease over the latches and gave it a good few pushes until it locked. After a quick search here, I've just gone out and checked the lever, and sure enough it is slack, with just a slight clicking coming from the right hand side under the bonnet where the cables split.
So could someone be kind enough to pm me how to get around this, as my new synergy 2 should be turning up tomorrow. Great timing! Thanks -Dan.

Simon · 3rd September 2008, 23:33

Thanks for asking Samuelle. PM on its way shortly....

afcbadam · 4th September 2008, 17:16

do some have a boot pull then. mines a push button

Mike · 4th September 2008, 17:17

Quote:

Originally Posted by afcbadam

do some have a boot pull then. mines a push button

No, they are all push

Samuelle · 4th September 2008, 22:29

Quote:

Originally Posted by afcbadam

do some have a boot pull then. mines a push button

Your not a copper by any chance are you

Mine has a push button as well now that I think about it, (as well as key button opening, which I didn't realise for the first few weeks of ownership!).

Thanks to Simon I managed to get my bonnet open again fairly easily. Everything oiled and greased, and the splitter turned around and cable tied and working smoothly. I noticed while oiling the cable for the nearside lock that it was sticking at about 3/4ths open, and felt like there was a bit of grit stuck in the lock, so I guess that's what caused it.

Unfortunately the afternoon post beat me home by 10mins so I'll have to wait 'till the weekend to play with the synergy. Thanks for the help - Dan.

Edit: Some of you may be way ahead of me here, but the lights just come on for me. The bonnet's not opened much for a few years, and then a keen new owner servicing it in bits and pieces, so bits of grit around the dirty old lock make their way into the mechanism. So my next 'new to me' car, the bonnet lock is going to be top of the service list.

Simon · 4th September 2008, 22:31

Good to hear it's all sorted and your bonnet is accessible again.

Reversing the splitter box and greasing the latches as you have done will certainly help prevent a repeat performance of your problem.

stocktake · 24th April 2010, 09:11

Quote:

Originally Posted by afcbadam

do some have a boot pull then. mines a push button

I once asked my missus to push the boot opener and she pushed the bonnet catch in so hard she snapped it

FredSpencer · 24th April 2010, 09:32

Quote:

Originally Posted by stocktake

I once asked my missus to push the boot opener and she pushed the bonnet catch in so hard she snapped it

Oh you really do tempt me but as I'm all excited about going to the Lakes in a little while I'll be good.

xion2000 · 26th April 2010, 10:41

Hi all, just bought my first MG ZT 3 days ago so don't know enough about then to be able to post any help or advice for other members, so this is my first post. Having the same problem as many other members with releasing the bonnet catch. I managed to open it yesterday by getting hold of the cable behind the release handle with a pair of long nose pliers and slowly & carefully pulling it. Can someone please PM me a more permanent solution to fixing the problem.
By the way, great forum with loads of intersting articles to read, I'm currently contemplating changing my IPK to one with a trip computer, If I do it I will post my findings

DCB75 · 25th February 2011, 14:41

The bonnet of my car will not release. One side releases but not the other; I have tried pushing the bonnet up and down etc but it will not budge. Having read the posts re this topic I understand that the solution I need is only available via a PM so please can a moderator PM me with the solution.

Many thanks,

Duncan.

3rd September 2008, 23:31	#1
Samuelle Regular poster MG ZT CDTI 135+ Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Sussex Posts: 84 Thanks: 8 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Bonnet release Broken/Stuck or Slack I've been pulling the bonnet release rather than the boot since I've had my ZT, due to giving it a full service in short bursts, so at the shops and in a hurry yesterday I pulled the wrong lever and popped the bonnet. The bonnet didn't want to shut again, so being in a hurry I just smeared a bit of grease over the latches and gave it a good few pushes until it locked. After a quick search here, I've just gone out and checked the lever, and sure enough it is slack, with just a slight clicking coming from the right hand side under the bonnet where the cables split. So could someone be kind enough to pm me how to get around this, as my new synergy 2 should be turning up tomorrow. Great timing! Thanks -Dan.

4th September 2008, 17:16	#3
afcbadam Gets stuck in 2004 MG ZS 180 Join Date: May 2008 Location: Southampton Posts: 978 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	do some have a boot pull then. mines a push button __________________ AFC Bournemouth www.themgzs.co.uk Inner wing open cone Oil catch tank Janspeed cat back Janspeed de-cat Reidy Re-mapped

26th April 2010, 10:41	#9
xion2000 Avid contributor MG ZT+ CDTi 135 Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Middlesbrough Posts: 209 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Another Bonnet release newbie Hi all, just bought my first MG ZT 3 days ago so don't know enough about then to be able to post any help or advice for other members, so this is my first post. Having the same problem as many other members with releasing the bonnet catch. I managed to open it yesterday by getting hold of the cable behind the release handle with a pair of long nose pliers and slowly & carefully pulling it. Can someone please PM me a more permanent solution to fixing the problem. By the way, great forum with loads of intersting articles to read, I'm currently contemplating changing my IPK to one with a trip computer, If I do it I will post my findings

25th February 2011, 14:41	#10
DCB75 Newbie Rover 75 saloon Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Northwich Posts: 1 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Unable to open the bonnet on my Rover 75 The bonnet of my car will not release. One side releases but not the other; I have tried pushing the bonnet up and down etc but it will not budge. Having read the posts re this topic I understand that the solution I need is only available via a PM so please can a moderator PM me with the solution. Many thanks, Duncan.

3rd September 2008, 23:33	#2
Simon Banned - Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: - Posts: 10,318 Thanks: 0 Thanked 4 Times in 3 Posts	Thanks for asking Samuelle. PM on its way shortly....

4th September 2008, 22:31	#6
Simon Banned - Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: - Posts: 10,318 Thanks: 0 Thanked 4 Times in 3 Posts	Good to hear it's all sorted and your bonnet is accessible again. Reversing the splitter box and greasing the latches as you have done will certainly help prevent a repeat performance of your problem.