HELP - 280 GE bonnet / hood stuck

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tase
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As title stated...

Pulled the release lever but bonnet remains in locked position!

Do not really want to take it to a mechanic if I can sort something myself - ANYONE!

 

Thank you in advance

Arnie
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Re: HELP - 280 GE bonnet / hood stuck

Check the release handle, see if the cable has detached itself or if it has snapped. One possibility is that it has slackened in which case you may need some pliers to pull it more, but you would know this if the handle moves to the end of its travel fairly easily without much tension. If there;s no tension, the cable has snapped or broken.

It works similar to bicycle brakes with a Bowden cable.

Possibly the bonnet is just a little stuck. First try to pull up on the bonnet whilst someone else operate the release handle.

Simon666
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Re: HELP - 280 GE bonnet / hood stuck
Hi This happened to me but on a 463 - you may have a 460, which oddly given the simplicity of the mechanicals, might actually be harder. On the 463 you can get to the release catch though the grill (mine is a 2000) so you can check to see if the catch is actually moving. Also you can get a long flathead screwdriver onto the catch arm and activate it - wrapping the screwdriver shaft in cloth helps stop you trashing your grill paint. I also managed to get some bike brake cable under the bonnet and round the catch so I could activate it that way as well. Finally because my catch was actually still woking I also managed to get a very thin spanner under the bonnet (it would lift slightly) and released the bolts that hold the part of the catch that mounts on the top of the engine bay cross member so that this had movement in it. I then spent an hour variously wriggling/shanking the bonnet by lifting it with more emphasis on alternatively the left and righthand side, which finally came good when I got my other half to pull the latch (I had it jammed open - this intervention might not have been the clincher) whilst I did the fairy forceful wrangling. And just before I went to get the angle grinder up the bonnet popped - This all came down to the bonnet mounted bayonet catch being caught under the lip of the cross member catch, which was holding it slightly off centre and preventing it from being released. All told it took 3 hours to get it open... The reason I mentioned the 460 Vs 463 bit at the start of the reply is I am not sure you can get at the underside of the catch though the grill of a 460. But if you can that should be the start point as the most likely cause as already explained is the cable is snapped or slack - Obviously be careful with flat drivers near your radiator :-) If you cannot then the bike cable route would be my next try - just form it into a flat curve so you can 'turn' it round the catch, then use mole grips and pull the catch forward. Good luck Best
gav.helme
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Re: HELP - 280 GE bonnet / hood stuck

Can be poor bonnet alignment and the sprung pin catch is jammed under the retaining hole

Get some one to release and hold the cable released and lift and push and wiggle the bonnet side to side as you do and hopefully it will pop up

Obviously needs adjusting before you shut it again... or you will need to find the knack every time!

tase
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Re: HELP - 280 GE bonnet / hood stuck
Thank you guys The wire had slacked... So finally got it opened and now it won't lock / close back? Any ideas! I looked at the catch luck and that seems fine?
Arnie
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Re: HELP - 280 GE bonnet / hood stuck

Sounds like it may be dirty or corroded, such that the lock mechanism is sticking (open) and maybe even mis-aligned.

I think that is you wish to avoid further issues, you might find some time to dismantle, clean, lubricate and re-adjust the lock mechanism and the cable. Also check the bonnet-mounted catch and alignment..

 

g wagon g
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Re: HELP - 280 GE bonnet / hood stuck

Arnie wrote:

Sounds like it may be dirty or corroded, such that the lock mechanism is sticking (open) and maybe even mis-aligned.

I think that is you wish to avoid further issues, you might find some time to dismantle, clean, lubricate and re-adjust the lock mechanism and the cable. Also check the bonnet-mounted catch and alignment..

 

Good advise but also put a cable from catch to outside of grille so you can open bonnet easy if cable does not release the catch.until you get it working perfect

It will save you some time trying to open bonnet again

Check cable is smooth also and if not replace it

The cable will fail when you are late and in the middle of no where with no tools or a torch so make sure its fine just for piece of mind

                                                     g

mgrays
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Re: HELP - 280 GE bonnet / hood stuck

..and when I lubricated and made the mechanisms nice.. then I found the spring on the bonnet had become too weak to pop the bonnet.. so now a bit of wood sits in the passenger's footwell to hold the lever open until I open the bonnet. Another bit of variety for you to think about!

g wagon g
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Re: HELP - 280 GE bonnet / hood stuck

All good fun

Look on the bright side

If it was another vehicle you would have no issues with bonnet only a snapped cable possibly

Your g wagon does not need checking for oil or water or broken parts on a daily basis so bonnet has seized shut lol

Win some loose some

Once bonnet catch is sorted it will be fine for many more years. The new type cars are just not the same. Better at many things nice inside but not built to last and easy to repair

                                                              G