bonnet catch broken - C5 mk3 estate

[Agour]

Whilst fixing another issue, my bonnet catch has decided that it no longer wants to work.

I can pop it open 2 inches with the interior handle, but the little tab underneath the car doesn't want to work.

It feels very stiff and there is definitely resistance, but it won't release the bonnet. It almost feels like it's stuck somewhere..

Any ideas on how to fix it? Ideally a way in which I can open the bonnet manually, then I can at least inspect the catch release mechanism to see whats going wrong.

[GiveMeABreak]

I did a little video of the mechanism on mine here:



More on this thread:
viewtopic.php?f=3&t=61555&hilit=bonnet#p595644

Last winter the plastic lever under the bonnet became brittle in the cold and snapped. This left me unable to open the damned thing with an MOT due in the morning! Got a replacement cable and catch from the dealer and had it fitted in no time.

A combo of a screwdriver and pliers to get at the wire is needed IIRC. White Marine Grade Grease - my new best friend!

[Estately]

Worth dipping some engine oil into the cable run down the wire from time to time and operating the tag with the bonnet already open. As a suggestion If you lead an uneventful life.

[GiveMeABreak]

Yes, when I replaced mine. I greased up the cables and sprayed a load of silicon grease in the hard to reach places - but the plastic lever is a sham - it really is not up to the job in the extreme cold weather, so be very gentle in the cold with lifting it and keep the wires well lubed.

[Agour]

That video of the mechanism was very helpful, thank you!

I managed to poke a long metal pole through the front grill and actuate the mechanism.

The cable release had got sticky over time and didn't work very well anymore. A replacement was £12.50 on ebay and took ten minutes to fit

[GiveMeABreak]

No worries

[Letang]

My hood frozen on my C5 2010,i tried to open it and the little plastic thing you press to open the hood snapped..

Anyone could write or point out where you exactly could go in with a screwdriver or something like that to get the good open..