Bonnet cable broken

[PAULS S]

Hi, got to page 50 on the forum and gave up, the search is down again.
The near side has gone, luck the bonnet is up, do I need a new cable or is there a connector at this end and the cable has come out ?

[phillpot]

Cable ends are crimped on......



Maybe (if you're lucky) it was slack and has just dropped out of the catch?

[PAULS S]

Thanks, no I am not that lucky, the cable has come through the outer cable,
so need a new one ? how do the crimped ends fit through the ajusters at the handle ? and what is the best way of replacing the cable ?

[S2Andy]

Hi The inner cable is one piece and starts at the near side goes under the dash, around a big pulley wheel on the release handle and all the way through to the offside. I replaced mine with an inner brake cable from a tandem, terminating with a solderless nipple from same bike shop. A bit fiddly and you may have to undo the clips/sliders from inside the car to gain access and also trim the outers slightly if its fraying. Takes a while but mines been fixed for 5 years now using this. Also gives a nice clean action with no fraying wires to contend with. A

[PAULS S]

Thanks Andy,
That is what i was thinking of doing, my local motor spares shop has a reel of cable and some solderless nipples, i cannot see any other way than to remove the sliders as you cannot get to them in place ?

[S2Andy]

The sliders which the bonnet pins clip into are secured by 2 bolts each accessed from within the footwell. Passenger side from memory takes a bit of finding due to the fuse box etc. Again from memory I think I managed to thread the wire from the nearside until the nipple on the new cable engaged with the slider. Offside slider much easier to access from within drivers footwell, and thats the one i took out to tension the cable properly with the solderless nipple. Think it took an afternoon with a fair few curses and scratches. A

[GadgeS3C]

Must be a day for it!

My nearside bonnet catch has stopped clipping today. Looks like the actual slider is stuck in the released position. Need to do some more investigation but does anyone know what the catch part (female part in the body, not the bonnet bit) is off?

Hoping I don't need one but just in case...
Ta Gary

[phillpot]

Not very clear in my photo above but there is a little spring between the two parts, may have broken/rusted away or it could just be gunked up with old dry grease and cp.

The one in the photo could be "available" if you're stuck

[GadgeS3C]

phillpot said:

Not very clear in my photo above but there is a little spring between the two parts, may have broken/rusted away or it could just be gunked up with old dry grease and cp.

The one in the photo could be "available" if you're stuck

Mike - thanks - have the annoying scenario of an MOT needed in the next couple of weeks and I suspect a non-locking bonnet may be a fail. I'll let you know.

I think you could be right on the spring but I can't get the catch to move so it may be more than that.

Of course, also need to make the fog lights work...

[TVR-Stu]

GadgeS3C said:

I think you could be right on the spring but I can't get the catch to move so it may be more than that.

The previous owner of my S3c used to carry a small hammer to 'tap' the catch to 'persuade' it to spring back in to place!

I think what can happen is that if your pins are not falling in to the hole of the catch accurately then they bash/bend the edges of the recess and that can stop the catch throwing or springing back in to place. You may find if you prise up the edges of the hole in the catch a bit with a flat bladed screwdriver that the catch throws back across.

Not the clearest explanation but I know what I mean

[GadgeS3C]

TVR-Stu said:

The previous owner of my S3c used to carry a small hammer to 'tap' the catch to 'persuade' it to spring back in to place!

I think what can happen is that if your pins are not falling in to the hole of the catch accurately then they bash/bend the edges of the recess and that can stop the catch throwing or springing back in to place. You may find if you prise up the edges of the hole in the catch a bit with a flat bladed screwdriver that the catch throws back across.

Not the clearest explanation but I know what I mean

Clear enough! A small bit of fettling with the tapometer released the catch. Spring is still working but obviously there is something causing it to catch occasionally.

I'm sure it'll be fully cured when I get around to fitting Norman's nice stainless bonnet hinges and I get the bonnet perfectly adjusted.

Many thanks,
Gary