2001 Clio bonnet release

[Patrick Bateman]

Where the hell is the catch to lift the bonnet after pulling the release lever? There's one small thing on the underside of the bonnet that appears to be a catch but pulling/pushing it doesn't seem to do anything.

[John D.]

Thats where it is. Is 2001 pre or post facelift? I know my old 2002 Clio had the facelift and that is how you open the bonnet - reach under after the lever in the cabin has 'popped' it open a little and pull.

Sure it hasn't seized? Could be the cable running from the lever - can you hear it pop the bonnet when you pull it? or could be the catch itself under the bonnet. The catch corroding is what caused the spate of bonnets flying open for which Renault issued the recall.

[GTP rpm]

As said above, can you hear it "pop"?

If not, get someone else to pull the lever from inside repeatedly, while you pull up/down on the front end of the bonnet.

However, if this doesn't work, chances are you've got a seized catch or snapped cable and getting to them from underneith isn't the easiest of things without taking the vehicle in the air.