Bonnet Release Cable Woes

P

PaulA2

Well-Known Member
Sadly I am losing the will today as could not for the life of me find the end of the bonnet pull.

I knew there was an issue with the release as declared by previous owner but as weather was half decent today I wanted to have a go at replacing it. I would usually look at my other A2 to see where the cable is routed but alas its with a family member at present!

Could some advise the route from release catch in engine bay to where it goes into the bulkhead in detail as I think the route of mine is wrong and where it appears in the footwell area. No sign of any cable about drivers pedals and the end has been disconnect from the pull handle / snapped. Granted I could just yank old one out and try and get new one through where the hole is left but its a pig to get to due to brake fluid reservoir. Online manuals not really any help.

If anyone has replaced theirs I would welcome any direction.

Cheers, Paul
 
On line manual is for lhd car. Trying to find a picture I thought I had but so far can't find it. The cable does route looking forward into the engine bay from the latch right along the slam panel then down the nearside wing, then goes over the top of the fresh air intake for the blower finally to the servo. Passes through the bulkhead high up then into the dash and to the pull handle.
 
Thanks for the reply, I suspected this was the case, strangely on my car I cannot for the life of me find it in the car. Can see where it enters behind the brake fluid reservoir in engine bay.

it’s definitely been out at some stage as it’s not over the top of air intake in engine.
 
Near the wiper motor you should find a jagged bracket ( bad description I know ) the cable locates into that then arcs down towards the bulkhead where it passes through with its grommet. Can you see the bracket its under the scuttle between the wiper drive and the drivers side washer jet?
 
In the below picture ( not mine ) you can see the bracket in red circle and the release cable in the blue circle. In this picture the cable is not clipped in but you can see it come over the fresh air intake.

wiper1.jpg
 
Many thanks for that description, this all makes perfect sense. Where does it enter the bulkhead usually? Behind the brake fluid reservoir? I can barely get my hands in there. Does anyone have an image of where it comes through the bulkhead internally? Thanks
 
That is good news as thats where I had narrowed it down to, there is nothing there aside from the hole. I just hope that aligns with where the cable in place is routed too as its a pig to get to it behind the dreaded brake fluid reservoir. I will then pull existing one out and then try and route a new one through. Strangely there is some form of insulation after the metal bulkhead too. Becoming apparent that someone has had a go at some stage but will get there in the end. Very much appreciate the images you have sent, big help.
 
I find that applying a bit of fairy liquid or loads of WD40 to the cable helps it slide through the hole, make sure you attach the end of the cable very well too, nothing worse than feeling it pop through, only to find out it is still in the car and you have the other end in your hand!! Its happened to me before once...never again.
 
audifan said:
In the below picture ( not mine ) you can see the bracket in red circle and the release cable in the blue circle. In this picture the cable is not clipped in but you can see it come over the fresh air intake.

View attachment 61670
Click to expand...
Not too sure that it clips into that bracket, that is where the heated washer jets cables lock into, but I sure people have used it before now to locate the bonnet cable.
 
Yes heated washer jets and the cable fit onto the bracket..at least on all the cars I have owned or worked on. Although the heated washers wiring runs towards the passenger side. Believe it gives an anchor point for the outer cable and prevents any chance of it being caught in the wiper mechanism - very slight I know.
 
Clackers said:
I find that applying a bit of fairy liquid or loads of WD40 to the cable helps it slide through the hole, make sure you attach the end of the cable very well too, nothing worse than feeling it pop through, only to find out it is still in the car and you have the other end in your hand!! Its happened to me before once...never again.
Click to expand...
Here lies my problem, there is nothing that I can see in the car at present so i cant use the old one to pull new one through! Hoping that when I remove existing cable and grommet I can get a coat hanger or similar through. Not looking forward to getting the grommet in the hole uder the bulkhead.
 
Hi,

I am thinking if the brake fluid reservoir is a major obstacle then would it not be an idea to free it's supporting bracket and move it aside for access? In itself fiddly but I remember Laimis did this in his video of replacing O/S shock. It's at about 26 min (I think) here ...


In the Part II there is a good view at about 5 min (I think) of the access you gain and I think I see your cable.


Just thought it might help.

Andy
 
Take a couple of pictures yourself of the areas as that may show better what you have already and then point you how to fix it.
 
So with the lockdown and nice weather decided to have another go at the cable.

after much cursing and frustration at not being able to identify the route from cabin to the engine bay.

then I had a bit of a light bulb moment, I removed the drivers wheel arch liner and hey presto the cable actually passes through the bulkhead in engine bay, then through a separate hole into the drivers cabin. There is also a large plastic covered sponge up there too which is what it was impossible to find the route.

so finally have it all connected back up. Sadly it was almost dark when finished but becomes self explanatory when you see it when all stripped down.

there should be a grommet on each hole to prevent water ingress.

if I have to remove will try and get images but should anyone need any help please shout.

One less job to do for now!
 
I’m sorry I missed this post Paul, I don’t know how I did. The cable you were re-routing yesterday was supposed by me to Joey so could have helped a bit with the reverse process. Glad you are all sorted now though ?
 
Steve hang your head in shame for letting me down.....!

only kidding mate, as much as it was bugging me to snapping point it’s perhaps all the more rewarding when you finally get it sorted!
 
All functioning correctly now? You may have to adjust the lock plunger in the slam panel if the service flap fails to lock easily or does not want to unlock.
 
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