Hi to all, I have just spent the afternoon sorting out my bonnet catch. I went to open the bonnet and the handle was floppy as the cable had broken at the bonnet catch end of the cable. After looking at a few forums I was not much wiser, so I looked through the front grill and I could see the operating arm with a return spring. By bending a clothes hanger I was able to hook onto the arm and open the bonnet very easily.
2 tips - one, don't hook onto the spring as I did -
it came off and disappeared down between the radiators. It took me two hours to fish it out and refit the spring. Two, unlock the car or the car alarm will go off as the bonnet opens!
I attach photos. The first shows the tool I made with a coat hanger. The second show the bonnet operating lever (top right of photo) under the striker plate as viewed through the front grill.
I hope these help if you have the misfortune to have the bonnet cable snap. Now all I have to do is source a new cable and fit it!!!
2 tips - one, don't hook onto the spring as I did -
I attach photos. The first shows the tool I made with a coat hanger. The second show the bonnet operating lever (top right of photo) under the striker plate as viewed through the front grill.