| Author | Message | ||
     Bill Coburn Moderator Username: bill_coburn Post Number: 1090 Registered: 4-2003 |
Ever been caught with a car that the release wire for pulling the bonnet lock open had broken. How do you then unlock the bonnet?? (The axe approach was considered.) | ||
| John Kilkenny Frequent User Username: john_kilkenny Post Number: 76 Registered: 6-2005 |
Bill, This happened to me many years ago when the release wire pulled out of the lever. I could not see how I could possibly get it open and even considered cutting a hole in the bonnet. I'm not sure whether it was Robert McDermott or the people at York Motors who suggested the solution, which was to slide a thin spanner through the front of the bonnet to undo the two top bolts holding the grille, then remove the grille and use a long wooden dowel to knock the release lever back. It took about fifty tries before I managed to hit the lever but what a relief when it worked ! After that I added a wire to the other end of the shaft which I could access by removing the fresh air cover.  | ||
| Jan Forrest Experienced User Username: got_one Post Number: 34 Registered: 1-2008 |
How would that work on the front hinged Shadows? Fortunately (touch wood) I haven't had that problem but it's always a useful thing to know - just in case! | ||
| Bill Coburn Moderator Username: bill_coburn Post Number: 1091 Registered: 4-2003 |
Jan This applies to Shadows and Spirits. Actually it was not my problem but that of an esteemed colleague. He and his rapidly balding accomplice spent more than a day trying to open the thing and finally settled on a rigid shaped tool that they could feed up through the sub frame beside the steering box and then push the lever. But thank you John I'll look at your method and hopefully never have to use it! | ||
| Jan Forrest Experienced User Username: got_one Post Number: 35 Registered: 1-2008 |
Ta very glad, Cobber. When I get her back (some time next week I hope) I'll see how this advice relates RHD models. |
