Broken bonnet cable 0n Smiley Transit

[Kev1000s]

Hi,
whats best way to get the bonnet open on a smiley transit with a broken cable?

[Jim Archer]

Use a long pointy stick from under the front bumper. You need to be able to see up the back of the radiator, a torch you can hold in your mouth will help

It's a fair old reach and quite fiddley, but easy enough.

HTH

Jim

[OxtonyxO]

mine has a plastic cover to stop you doing this

[Kev1000s]

Sorted it thanks,laid on my back and got my arm up and pushed the plastic cover out of the way and operated the lever with my hand.

Cheers...............

[AlanN]

Dam, you've got long arms
you havn't got long ginger hair and best friends with Clint Eastwood are ya

[Kev1000s]

Yes mate,how did you know !

[thrud]

right turn clide

[brangeo]

Have the same problem and will try the Clyde/long stick method later today. Just need to be sure. You say 'up the back of the radiator' Does this mean between the radiator and the engine. If not I may have an added issue as I have an air conditioner heat exchanger in front of the radiator. BTW is 1997 RWD 2.4 Diesel. I will post my findings. I have an angle grinder at the ready.

[brangeo]

Well the air con exchanger didn't get in the way but all the other air con bits made it impossible to get my mitts to the lever. It is offset to the right looking from the front so I needed to get my hand/tool up the left hand side and push the lever. I only found this out once I cut the bonnet off with a grinder. I don't think the prescibed method can be used when A/C is installed. BTW the Haynes said to use your method also so I don't doubt it can be done but one needs to have a good mental picture of where things are to have a chance.

[jay]

only the second lever is off set to the right looking from the front the main catch is in the centre of the bonnet and can still be got the same way as non air con vans..you must have bent the bonnet as well to get a grinder under there on the main catch as well...unless you just meant the second catch which can be got from the front with a hooked type screwdriver or modified metal coat hanger

[Bill Bourke Special]

Thanks for your help, here's some more,
I managed to get Passenger side blinker by pulling strait out and using the end of a scraper to pop the spring off, then removed the top screw of the plastic grill/light surround with a right angle screwdriver. you might get a normal one in on the angle but if you have a bent screwdriver, use that. So, now attempt to remove headlight. The outside top bolt, if you have a close look, has a thin nut on your side of the panel where it threads into the back of the light pod. Simple terms, you don't have to put a deep socket from behind, just use a thin 14mm open ended spanner from the front. Headlight partly removed, slide your arm in and your nearly home, find the lever and push.
Once its open, then you can see how a long thin stick, or screwdriver would work!!! Locate the vertical upright support on the motor side of the radiator, its left of center about where the idler pulley is. OK, now the "ideal" would be 8mm H/T pointed steel rod. Slide the rod up, resting it on the face of this vertical support/bracket as you go, but on the passenger side edge of it. The rod should stop when it hits the bonnet, and you should be up against the release lever. Push toward the Driver side, the lever has about 1" of travel, about the same as the width if the vertical support. The pointy bit is probably required to help slide beneath the plastic flap and the radiator. Hope this helps

[Kevin’s]

Thank you ,I’ve spent a week trying to open hood. After reading this went back and angle grinder the bolt holding the passenger side headlight to get that off then reached in with arm and located the release lever.
I can now put the angle grinder away....won’t need it