2000 V70 snapped bonnet cable

Post by **precopster** » 03 Jan 2017, 06:21

I sold the 2000 V70 today to a passer-by who liked her for small change. He took the car on knowing it needs a spring seat and a few items to get the car on the road as well as a totally flat battery. No plates attached however runs well and with a good ETM.

I jump started her for him and waved a final good-bye. Half an hour later he called saying he had cut the engine off about 5 miles from my home and he can't open the bonnet. So I loaded up a jumper cable and headed out to see what the problem was.

Sure enough the red bonnet lever felt very limp indicating a broken bonnet cable. Looks like it had done it's last pull or he had forced it.

I managed to grab the bonnet cable on the right side by removing the right indicator but once I pulled it the ball end dislodged from the bonnet release. I pulled the bare metal cable all the way through and the frayed end from the handle side revealed itself. I couldn't find the cable on the left side at all by removing the left indicator. I know that the bonnet release assemblies are bolted sideways into the inner engine bay panel by 10mm bolts and if I had brought the right type of spanner I could have loosened at least 2 of them on each side. The 3rd bolt looks well hidden away though its thread protrudes to where it can be seen but that's a tough thing to reach when only 3-4mm of thread protrudes.

I managed to jump start the car by reaching up to where I could grab the red battery cable as it snakes under the battery tray and exposed some copper wire for the jumper cable.

So now I'm after suggestions on how to release the bonnet for the new owner. He needs to get a new cable no doubt but also Has anybody dealt with this on an 850/S70/V70?

Post by **scot850** » 03 Jan 2017, 11:23

I have been fortunate so far having only had stretched or badly adjusted cable pulls. When adjusting them I always remove the headlight on the offending side to give access to the release mechanism. I am trying to figure where the release cable has broken and aware you have a RHD car. I am trying to recall if the hood release was moved to the RHS for RHD cars? If so I am not sure why the cable from the LHS to the RHS is not accessible on the RHS at the lever as I thought the pull to the first catch was one cable and there was an independent cable from the first release catch to the 2nd. It would be unusual for both to break. If the cable between the 2 catches is intact you should be able to release both from that one catch. My cars are LHD but would a picture help you at all Mike?

Neil.

Post by **precopster** » 03 Jan 2017, 15:08

You've given me an idea as I was wondering how they work. If one is removed and pulled then the other one should yield due to being joined by a cable.

The guy will no doubt work it out but I will feed him as much info as I can as I feel somewhat responsible. It may have broken on the last pull when I jumpstarted the car however the cable felt solid to me. However a $200 car is a $200 car and he wasn't complaining after I left him. Thanks for the info.

Post by **scot850** » 03 Jan 2017, 15:45

You are welcome! If I can help any further let me know.

Posted new project on MVS.

Neil.

Post by **dyn blin** » 03 Jan 2017, 17:22

scot850 wrote:I am trying to recall if the hood release was moved to the RHS for RHD cars?"

Neil.

It's been a couple of years, but memory seems to serve while working on a RHD 850 on a family visit to Devon with the same problem, the driver's side pull released the passenger side too. I accessed it through the driver's side turn signal assembly (& broke the tab that holds the tension spring- use more care than I did).

Post by **precopster** » 03 Jan 2017, 19:09

Yes Neil was right there is a separate cable between them. From the pic here I think there is a front 10mm bolt that can release the lock without having to undo the 3 side bolts

Post by **scot850** » 03 Jan 2017, 22:47

I've sent you the pictures directly, but added a few more here Mike.

: RH hood latch

This shows the RH latch on a LHD car. If you look carefully you can see the 3 mounting bolts. 2 parallel at the top and one toward the front of the car at the bottom of the latch bracket. It is a little blurred. The bear is to access the rear upper bolt as the latch is in the way.

: LH latch on LHD car

This attempts to show the 2 cables on the LH latch mechanism. Note the LH mechanism also has the contacts mounted for the alarm system. See photo below.

: LH latch and wiring for alarm

Hope this helps along with the great schematic of the parts already added above.

Neil.

Post by **precopster** » 04 Jan 2017, 00:50

Thanks Neil, very much appreciated.