Bonnet cable will not open the bonnet

[TehAgent]

Well, as per the title.

I have a Peugeot 208 2014

Is there anyway to manually trigger the bonnet latch as the cable will not do it. i have managed to get the front grill off and pull the cable through from the cabin area, but it will not "pop" the bonnet in order to get it open.

Seems Peugeot didnt think of anyway to access the latch as there seems to be nothing i can get on to to activate the opening mechanism, unless someone else has some pointers.

Unfortunately, everything ive searched for online, hasn’t managed to provide a solution to the problem. Ive tried the pushing on the hood, while someone pulls the catch, you cant pull the cable, it just doesnt move, its like its solid.

[mickthemaverick]

When you say you've tried pushing on the bonnet with someone pulling the cable, did you apply continuous pressure? It is more likely to release if you sit on the bonnet and bounce it while the cable is gripped in molegrips and pulled with a series of jerks!! (That doesn't mean the local rugby team ) Good luck

[CitroJim]

Welcome back to Pug ownership Ian and great to see you back on here again

[TehAgent]

When you say you've tried pushing on the bonnet with someone pulling the cable, did you apply continuous pressure? It is more likely to release if you sit on the bonnet and bounce it while the cable is gripped in molegrips and pulled with a series of jerks!! (That doesn't mean the local rugby team ) Good luck

tried no end of different options with that sitting on the bonnet and pulling the cable.

Need to gain access to the actual latch now but it seems to be hidden behind a bunch of plastic i cant get past to manually operate it to release the bonnet.

[TehAgent]

Welcome back to Pug ownership Ian and great to see you back on here again

Cheers bud, thought id signed up with the email associated with this account, apparently i didn’t lol

[mickthemaverick]

When you say you've tried pushing on the bonnet with someone pulling the cable, did you apply continuous pressure? It is more likely to release if you sit on the bonnet and bounce it while the cable is gripped in molegrips and pulled with a series of jerks!! (That doesn't mean the local rugby team ) Good luck

tried no end of different options with that sitting on the bonnet and pulling the cable.

Need to gain access to the actual latch now but it seems to be hidden behind a bunch of plastic i cant get past to manually operate it to release the bonnet.

The key to the sitting on the bonnet is to actually bounce yourself on it to give it a series of shocks rather than just continuous pressure. The next option may be to work out which bits of plastic may be replaceable and attack with the angle grinder to gain access to the latch. Obviously it may mean replacing panels so try and minimise the number of them it is necessary to cut through.

[PaulC5]

Probably a stupid question, but you are pulling the inner cable and not the outer to release the latch ?

[TehAgent]

only one cable, even took the leaver off the interior of the car, and pulled the wire directly.

From what i can see on ebay listings of the actual latch, there might be away to get to the mechanism. but its very very tight in there and you cant see what you're doing.

[TehAgent]

This is the back access, so if youre at the front of the vehicle facing the bonnet, this part would be the rear side of what you would be looking at.

[TehAgent]

Well, had the car on drive on ramps earlier, removed the front under-tray and tried to get to it from underneath within the engine bay, but no such luck.

I can not understand for the life of my why there is seemingly no way to access this from anywhere else.

Its getting to the point im thinking im going to have to actually cut into the bonnet, and replace that, just to gain access to the engine bay.

There are other Peugeot out there with seemingly similar issues, from what i can tell, just closing the bonnet too hard can pop the cable off of the release arm.

anyone breaking a black 208 with a good bonnet?

On a plus note, changed the two lower control arms for new ones as the rear bushes had perished.

[mickthemaverick]

Can you get the grill off and then cut through the surrounding plastic rather than cut the bonnet?

[TehAgent]

Can you get the grill off and then cut through the surrounding plastic rather than cut the bonnet?

i really need a good image of the latch area with the bonnet open to understand where id need to cut and if that would make a difference.

My understanding is that part is attached to the front bumper

[mickthemaverick]

How about this:

BFTW

and this video may also show you some more of what is involved:

[TehAgent]

How about....

So the bit i need to cut, is hidden behind the bonnet when its closed.... lol typical....

[mickthemaverick]

I think I would take off the chrome surround, probably prises off with a plastic trim tool, remove the number plate and then cut into the grill, if you can't get it off because the top fixings are under the lip of the bonnet, roughly as I've drawn on the picture. Then you should be able to get a hook up onto the release lever and pull it open.

BFTW

If you cut it carefully you may even be able to glue it back together afterwards as the number plate will hide most of the join.