Bonnet cable broken

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KennyW
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Bonnet cable broken

Post by KennyW »

Hi All,

Has anyone replaced the bonnet cable mine has recently broken. It appears from service Citroen the cable is no longer available.

Kenny
C5 x7 2.0 HDi 160 hp Estate exclusive, the newbie
Xantia 2.0 Hdi 90hp 1999 only 189,000 and rising!!!!!!! Moved on to a new home
C3 1.4 petrol (SWMBO)
Xantia TD 1.9 Mk 2 Estate LX 1998 model over 210,000 miles now and still rising!!!!!!!!!!!!! now deceased 17/12/2010.
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Re: Bonnet cable broken

Post by c.morewood »

Is it the small one or the long one Kenny? I have a spare short one.
Chris
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'00 Xant 110HdiSX Est 83K "W"
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KennyW
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Xantia 1.9 TD estate
x 131

Re: Bonnet cable broken

Post by KennyW »

Chris,
It's the long one and reading the BOL,it says remove dash and heater assembly!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I'm thinking, of using a a bicycle cable and pulling it through with the original cable attached through bulkhead.

Kenny
C5 x7 2.0 HDi 160 hp Estate exclusive, the newbie
Xantia 2.0 Hdi 90hp 1999 only 189,000 and rising!!!!!!! Moved on to a new home
C3 1.4 petrol (SWMBO)
Xantia TD 1.9 Mk 2 Estate LX 1998 model over 210,000 miles now and still rising!!!!!!!!!!!!! now deceased 17/12/2010.
c.morewood
Donor 2023
Posts: 1039
Joined: 05 Nov 2004, 14:38
Location: Kemnay, Nr Aberdeen, United Kingdom
My Cars: '00 Xantia 110 bhp Hdi SX Estate 65K "W"
'99 Xantia 110 bhp Hdi SX Estate 310K SORN "V"
'98 Xantia 1.9TD SX Estate 150K Sold "T"
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Re: Bonnet cable broken

Post by c.morewood »

Sorry can't help then Kenny. Paul (citroenxm) might have one.
I know the feeling.. the clutch cables used to go quite regularly on my BMW K100 .. after the first couple went .. I learned to have a spare one in the pannier and some tape and string to pull the new one through with.
Hopefully it'll be as easy as that.

Good Luck!
Chris
Tesla Model 3 LR DM AWD Blue White
'00 Xant 110HdiSX Est 83K "W"
'99 Xant 110HdiSX Est 320K "V"
'98 Xant 1.9TDSX Est 150K "T"
'97 Xant 1.9TD 20k Est
'94 Fiat TipoTd 40K

'85 BMW K100RT 330K Garaged 26yrs '80 Honda CB250 twin Superdream
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Re: Bonnet cable broken

Post by Richard_C »

Do you actually need the cable? At least in the short term. It strikes me that the main reason for a cable is to stop anyone opening the bonnet unless they have unlocked the car. Could you not simply make up a short length of wire or nylon cord from the catch to somewhere behind the grille or bumper? Chances of any passers by randomly tugging at bits of car to see if they have ersatz bonnet releases seems to me to be slim...
Richard_C

Current: , C4 Picasso 120 BlueHdi, C3 1.2 Auto
Past Citroens: Dyane (x2), 2CV, Visa, BX (x2), Xantia, Xsara Picasso, C3 (x2) C5 X7 Tourer, Synergie 1.9TD, C1
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KennyW
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Posts: 2498
Joined: 17 Jan 2006, 21:22
Location: Letham, Fife
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Previous Citroen's
Xantia 2.0 90hp estate
Xantia 1.9 TD estate
x 131

Re: Bonnet cable broken

Post by KennyW »

Richard C,

I can open bonnet by reaching under and pulling the cable. I was looking for anyone who has replaced it previously.
I have replaced the heating matrix before so well aware of the time it takes. Hence I'm looking at the alternative method i have suggested.

Kenny
C5 x7 2.0 HDi 160 hp Estate exclusive, the newbie
Xantia 2.0 Hdi 90hp 1999 only 189,000 and rising!!!!!!! Moved on to a new home
C3 1.4 petrol (SWMBO)
Xantia TD 1.9 Mk 2 Estate LX 1998 model over 210,000 miles now and still rising!!!!!!!!!!!!! now deceased 17/12/2010.
User avatar
KennyW
(Donor 2022)
Posts: 2498
Joined: 17 Jan 2006, 21:22
Location: Letham, Fife
My Cars: Current Citroen's
C5 x7 2010
SWMBO C3 2012
Previous Citroen's
Xantia 2.0 90hp estate
Xantia 1.9 TD estate
x 131

Re: Bonnet cable broken

Post by KennyW »

Well replaced the cable without removing the dash :-D .
Pretty simple really, The cable runs through an outer plastic sheath which is within a protective plastic covered metal spiral pipe.

I first removed the plastic steering cowling to reveal the orange bonnet release. Unbolted same from steering column,knocked out the broken head and small cable left.
There is a plastic outer pipe which runs through the fascia to the bulkhead, around the bulkhead to the N/S wing to joint where it connects to the short bonnet release cable. Simply release it there and remove cable from plastic sheath.
I used a brake cable from a bike but it is only 2M long and it requires some cutting of pipe to fashion it to fit but no problems. I adapted a electrical connector to fit the extra length required.

It works fine.

If you have problems running cable through it maybe as a result of heat melting the inner plastic sheath and little more judicial fettling is required.

Otherwise a simple 1 spanner job as per BOL which recommends removal of Fascia.

Kenny
C5 x7 2.0 HDi 160 hp Estate exclusive, the newbie
Xantia 2.0 Hdi 90hp 1999 only 189,000 and rising!!!!!!! Moved on to a new home
C3 1.4 petrol (SWMBO)
Xantia TD 1.9 Mk 2 Estate LX 1998 model over 210,000 miles now and still rising!!!!!!!!!!!!! now deceased 17/12/2010.
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