Passat bonnet not opening

[Berries]

Hello Guys,


I have a 03 reg 1.9 tdi Passat, problem is that i cannot get the bonnet open.

I have removed the handle from the leaver inside the car and pulled the cable with some grips but it hasn't opened.

Next thing i am considering is breaking the grill, is there any other way to open it?

[Iainwil]

Sounds like the cable might have snapped! When you pulled the lever was it really light? Had this on a VERY old car i had, found that i could get to the mechanism by getting under the engine, but i think you might struggle on the VW!

[jas xjr]

i have an r plate passatt. if it is the same shape then you can open it by using a screwdriver to manipulate the catch after you have pulled on the cable

[Berries]

The lever is very loose, i am sure i heard a noise under the boennet then it all went loose.

Looked at a mates, it would impossible to get to it from underneath, the engine is only about an inch away from the radiator. I've also poked around with a screw driver, but the bonnet comes down a fair bit so its hard to get to the lock.

I have found a grille on ebay as i might smash the one on there.

Not sure what to do, considering a dealership.

[Berries]

The lever is very loose, i am sure i heard a noise under the boennet then it all went loose.

Looked at a mates, it would impossible to get to it from underneath, the engine is only about an inch away from the radiator. I've also poked around with a screw driver, but the bonnet comes down a fair bit so its hard to get to the lock.

I have found a grille on ebay as i might smash the one on there.

Not sure what to do, considering a dealership.

[Iainwil]

Dealer = Expencive
Try and find a local garage, the cost will be a lot less and as its not really mechanical i'd rather have the ££ in my pocket than the dealers. If your from west sussex i can recomend a VERY good chap who would look at it?

[Berries]

I live in the Leeds area, will see if there is an independant specialist local to here.

[DPX]

If it the same as the golf iv then if you remove the plastic engine / sump cover and get your hand up to the catch and flick it with a screwdriver .
Make sure the engine is cold !!!!! the fan can start

[Berries]

Called an Audi and VW specialist, will take a day and the grille will have to be broken.

I was considering doing that anyway, could do it myself. I just got a grille of ebay but also want to replace the bonnet relase cable. Can't find any on the the internet, is that a dealer only part?

[ndtman]

Hi. I had this exact problem on my wife's Passat. The cable is in two parts with a junction in the engine bay just in front of the bonnet hinges on the o/s inner wing. This is where hers broke. Anyway to open the bonnet I jacked the car up, put it on stands, removed the undertray, unbolted the airconditioning pump and hung it out of the way. This allowed room to operate the bonnet catch from below using a long screwdriver. Just a note on this the Passat we had was a petrol 2.0 and the bonnet catch needed to be pushed to the nearside to open. Hope this helps as it worked for me and zero cost. Good luck.

[Berries]

Got it fixed - eventually

There was no way to get to it except by breaking the grille. Poked around with a screwdriver and manged to release the lock.

The bonnet latch had become stuck, a new one cost £20 from the dealers and £9 for new bonnet release cables. Grille from ebay and job done.

Surprise of the experience was that the dealers are not as expensive as first thought.