The bonnet release catch (the one under the dash) on my Merc E Class
Turbo D broke today when the little boy from Charlie Browns pulled on
it. He then tried to open the bonnet by grasping the cable with his
Mole grips. It wouldn't budge!

Somehow the catch under the actual bonnet must have failed, I don't
know how because it's opened quite regularly and always seemed free.
Other than sending a ferret with a screw driver up through the bottom
of the engine, does anyone know how I can get under the bonnet?

Failing that, has this happened to anyone else and did you have to
re-mortgage to get it fixed?

TIA

Xav

wrote:
The bonnet release catch (the one under the dash) on my Merc E Class
Turbo D broke today when the little boy from Charlie Browns pulled on
it. He then tried to open the bonnet by grasping the cable with his
Mole grips. It wouldn't budge!

Somehow the catch under the actual bonnet must have failed, I don't
know how because it's opened quite regularly and always seemed free.
Other than sending a ferret with a screw driver up through the bottom
of the engine, does anyone know how I can get under the bonnet?

Find identical car.
Measure exact spot that the catch is attached to on the top of the bonnet,
and then drill out the holes?

Ouch!

Ouch!!

wrote:
Ouch!!

Indeed.
Depending on the design, it may be possible to reach it with undertray
(if any) removed, and the vehicle on a lift.

Ian Stirling wrote:
wrote:

Ouch!!


Indeed.
Depending on the design, it may be possible to reach it with undertray
(if any) removed, and the vehicle on a lift.

Don't know about mercs, but a bent coathanger through the grille can
work if you know where the release is.

--
Spamtrap in use
To email replace 127.0.0.1 with blueyonder dot co dot uk

I think I shall just have to hope the garage has someone who's done
this before...

I suppose I coud always put some sort of plastic flowers in the holes
though )

wrote in message
oups.com...
The bonnet release catch (the one under the dash) on my Merc E Class
Turbo D broke today when the little boy from Charlie Browns pulled on
it. He then tried to open the bonnet by grasping the cable with his
Mole grips. It wouldn't budge!

Somehow the catch under the actual bonnet must have failed, I don't
know how because it's opened quite regularly and always seemed free.
Other than sending a ferret with a screw driver up through the bottom
of the engine, does anyone know how I can get under the bonnet?

Failing that, has this happened to anyone else and did you have to
re-mortgage to get it fixed?

TIA

Xav


get one person pressing down on the bonnet while someone else pulls the
cable, then relax the pressure on the bonnet and it may open. this works by
releasing the spring pressure on the mechanism, which makes the catch easier
to release.

mrcheerful

wrote in message
oups.com...
The bonnet release catch (the one under the dash) on my Merc E Class
Turbo D broke today when the little boy from Charlie Browns pulled
on
it. He then tried to open the bonnet by grasping the cable with his
Mole grips. It wouldn't budge!

Somehow the catch under the actual bonnet must have failed, I don't
know how because it's opened quite regularly and always seemed free.
Other than sending a ferret with a screw driver up through the
bottom
of the engine, does anyone know how I can get under the bonnet?

Failing that, has this happened to anyone else and did you have to
re-mortgage to get it fixed?


Has anyone tried pushing the bonnet down as someone else pulls on the
mole-grips, even some quite mangled (RTA style) bonnet catches respond
to this method.

Often dealers and car body shops know the best ways of getting bonnets
open in these situations whilst either causing no damage or the less
possible - just be thankful that it's not a front hinged bonnet, on
Jaguars one often *has* to drill holes in the top surface to allow the
pins to be unscrewed !

wrote in message
oups.com...
The bonnet release catch (the one under the dash) on my Merc E Class
Turbo D broke today when the little boy from Charlie Browns pulled on
it. He then tried to open the bonnet by grasping the cable with his
Mole grips. It wouldn't budge!

Somehow the catch under the actual bonnet must have failed, I don't
know how because it's opened quite regularly and always seemed free.
Other than sending a ferret with a screw driver up through the bottom
of the engine, does anyone know how I can get under the bonnet?

Failing that, has this happened to anyone else and did you have to
re-mortgage to get it fixed?

Might be worth asking the question at alt.auto.mercedes, if you haven't
already. There's quite a knowledge base of all things Merc-flavoured there.

HTH


--
Gill

Actually I hadn't asked on there because I couldn't find it (the group
that is). I'll give it another try...thanks everyone

xavier

On 7 Apr 2005 11:50:34 -0700, wrote:

The bonnet release catch (the one under the dash) on my Merc E Class
Turbo D broke today when the little boy from Charlie Browns pulled on
it. He then tried to open the bonnet by grasping the cable with his
Mole grips. It wouldn't budge!

Try the Merc forum he

http://www.gsfcarparts.com/forum/

sponix