Help getting into bonnet of a Xantia...

[Michel]

I had to open the bonnet on my 1.9TD estate when the latch was jammed, I did manage it from the front, but I'm damned if I can remember how. I'd need to let someone have a look at their Xantia and I'll remember!

[xantia_v6]

I had another look at my car this morning. I don't think that there is any way to reach the link rod without dismantling something, it is right up against the top panel of the grille and the fan shroud (maybe more accessible on a mk2). It does look as if it may be accessible if the front bumper is removed.

[Stickyfinger]

You cannot get to the cables/latches front the front or from below.

Go in via the headlamp is what I would do, under a £10er to replace.

[white exec]

Really annoying. Top slot of grille (XM) allows a long screwdriver to reach the transverse rod, and where it joins the LH latch for a shove of everything sideways. Is there really no access to that rod on Xan?

[wurlycorner]

Thanks guys.
I'll be heading over to have a go at it later today, after having a good rece on one of my others (where I can open the bonnet )
I may try just spraying a ton of WD40 at the latches first and just leaving it till the next day, since it seems I should be able to fire at those through the narrow gap between bonnet and grille.
Otherwise I agree, perhaps headlight is the only way (though pretty drastic, so I really would rather not)

[Hell Razor5543]

I would not use WD40 but Plus Gas, as the latter is designed to free up recalcitrant thinks that should occasionally move. WD40 was designed as a water dispersant (hence WD).

[xantia_v6]

I would investigate bumper removal, but if the captive nuts are rusty, that can be it's own world of pain.

[wurlycorner]

Just to update...

I haven't been successful yet but after lots of studying on one of my other Xantia's... This is definitely not an easy one!
They did a very good job shielding all access to the mechanism.

I have given it all a damn good squirting through the thin gap between bonnet and grille and left it to soak, to see if that helps at all.
There is a joint between the main cable and a very short length of cable that comes off the first latch across the front (passenger side) which is a good candidate to pull directly on, provided I can get access - still working on that, but I think it may require drilling a hole through the slam panel, buried a long way back behind the grille!

[Gibbo2286]

The answer was posted earlier I think, just keep bouncing the bonnet front up and down whilst pulling the cable, it may take a lot of effort but it will come eventually.

[white exec]

When you do manage to get it open, and have inspected the cable and catches, before shutting it fully again, slacken off (screw in) the support buffers by 4-5mm, and reset them so that there isn't so much upward heave on the catches . . . just enough to eliminate front edge movement, and no more.

[wurlycorner]

The answer was posted earlier I think, just keep bouncing the bonnet front up and down whilst pulling the cable, it may take a lot of effort but it will come eventually.

Done that lots of times. Absolutely no success.
Doesn't seem to be the latch part of the lock (that engages with the bonnet lugs) that's stuck, but the lower part of the mechanism that the cable pulls on (so bouncing the bonnet has no effect). It isn't going to open by pulling on the cable in the saloon - finding some means of direct access to the mechanism is what's needed.

[white exec]

Is the centre slat of the rad grille (c/w chevrons) perhaps removable - by a judicious fine saw-cut or two - to allow much better access to fan surround and catches/mechanism? A bit of gentle butchering of the plastic fan surround (or whatever's under there on Xantia) could be repaired, and wouldn't be visible anyway.

[wurlycorner]

Appreciate the ideas guys, thanks.


The grille is a one piece moulding.
It's held in by a single screw into the wing each side (under the indicator). I have got those out ok, because you can poke down to remove the clip on the indicator through the shut-line between wing and bonnet, with the bonnet shut.
There are then two push-fit split plastic rivets from the top of the grille into the slam panel and... guess what - you need the bonnet open to get at them!

I'll be having another play tonight on one of my other Xantia's, to see if there's something I can fashion the will get in via the indicator and across to the splice between the two halves of the release cable. You can't see through from the outside at all, with the bonnet closed, so need to try/practise on a car where I can see and then hopefully re-trace blind on the other car!

[GiveMeABreak]

I’m sure you have already considered it, but is there no way you can get some limited access with a hooked tool to the cable by going in from the wheel arch with wheel and liner removed?

[Gibbo2286]

Found this referring to the same problem on a Xsara, maybe...………………………………………..

Opened one of these today... had to drill a hole in the citroen inverted V badge on the grille.

If you drill just inside the top of the lower V (between that and the bottom of the grille) in a small triangle shaped piece of the grille, yes there is a metal backing to the grille but if you drill exactly in this place there is a small square hole on the underside of the bonnet that an 8mm drill bit will just pass through, then it is just a matter of using a screwdriver to flick the bonnet release.

It does of course leave a small hole in the grille but this can hardly be seen and as far as I can see there is no other way from underneath or through a wheel arch.