bonnet latch wont click

[solidsponge]

Hi

I have looked at the forum posts about this and found that you can use a cable tie to fix it? but I dont get where people are applying the cable tie?

My issue:

- Bonnet doesnt click in the mech on drivers side (leaving a giant gap and unlocked bonnet on one side).
- Bonnet does release

It looks like the cable has stretched so it doesnt quite pull the mechanism enough so it doesnt click in. Im wondering if anyone who has done their fix can tell me where to put the cable tie?

Here is a photo of where the cable is just about:



Thanks

[solidsponge]

guess no info about for this. Thanks anyway.

[The Nun]

There was an article in the Modern MINI magazine all about what to do on this, think it was about 4 or 5 issues ago, thrown mine out now though.
Something to do with the release cable ferrule to the latch moving from is retainer so you hold it in place with the cable tie to stop it dislocating, something like that, you need to find a copy, maybe you can see one on line?
Not got an old Gen 1 MINI myself so not had the problem.

[Dermottdog]

You say you think the cable has stretched and not allowing the mechanism to click in. Normally, the cable just pulls to release the catch thus unlocking the bonnet. The bonnet catches are normally fail safe, that is to say that if the cables were to break completely, the bonnet would remain locked. If the catch is not latching, I would suspect a seized cable which is not allowing the catch to fully release. All the bonnet closers I have seen have been spring loaded.

[solidsponge]

Thanks guys.

I will try and find out which modern mini mag that is. I do have some so maybe have it, but dunno if I chucked um.

I'm just speculating about the cable, the cable always unlocked it. It just doesn't lock it down into the latch? All I would say is I lodged a bit of metal in-between the latch bit and it locked? But I cant have a bit of metal in there!

Ill try and have another look and post back. Thanks again for replying.

[solidsponge]

Quote: Originally Posted by The Nun (original)

There was an article in the Modern MINI magazine all about what to do on this, think it was about 4 or 5 issues ago, thrown mine out now though.
Something to do with the release cable ferrule to the latch moving from is retainer so you hold it in place with the cable tie to stop it dislocating, something like that, you need to find a copy, maybe you can see one on line?
Not got an old Gen 1 MINI myself so not had the problem.

Any idea which one and if it was a main guide or a question and answer? Guess I can look through every page of the ones I have, haha. Ive got plenty from 2011, may-june 2012, march april 2012 etc.

Anywho thanks

[The Nun]

Quote: Originally Posted by solidsponge (original)

Any idea which one and if it was a main guide or a question and answer? Guess I can look through every page of the ones I have, haha. Ive got plenty from 2011, may-june 2012, march april 2012 etc.

Anywho thanks

I seem to recall it was a buying guide and typical problems associated with the early cars and what to look for?
Defo something about bonnet catch and tie wraps.
One of this years issues anyway, or late last year.
Could have been the one with the pink MINI on the cover?

[solidsponge]

Quote: Originally Posted by The Nun (original)

There was an article in the Modern MINI magazine all about what to do on this, think it was about 4 or 5 issues ago, thrown mine out now though.
Something to do with the release cable ferrule to the latch moving from is retainer so you hold it in place with the cable tie to stop it dislocating, something like that, you need to find a copy, maybe you can see one on line?
Not got an old Gen 1 MINI myself so not had the problem.

I found this Release Cables but it doesnt really help with much it seems. Wonder if thats what you meant?

[The Nun]

No it definitely mentioned using cable ties.
You will have to read them all again. ha, good bedtime reading now anyway

[solidsponge]

Quote: Originally Posted by Dermottdog (original)

You say you think the cable has stretched and not allowing the mechanism to click in. Normally, the cable just pulls to release the catch thus unlocking the bonnet. The bonnet catches are normally fail safe, that is to say that if the cables were to break completely, the bonnet would remain locked. If the catch is not latching, I would suspect a seized cable which is not allowing the catch to fully release. All the bonnet closers I have seen have been spring loaded.

I think it must be this as looking at it the cable isnt moving hardly or at all from within the casing. Not sure how I can fix this really.

Also couldnt find the cable tie thing but probably wouldnt help.

[The Nun]

If the inner cable isnt moving properly or fully then its obviously seizing, remove the cable at the latch, inner and outer, stand it upright by tying up to the bonnet and try to let some penetrating oil run down inside from the end keep doing it and leave it for a while and keep trying the opener to see if it frees off.
Failing that, you would need to completely remove the whole cable system, pull the inner out, and clean and grease it before reassembling.

[bax2079]

Here's a photo of my bonnet latch with the wire tied in with a white cable tie:

[bax2079]

And do the same on the other side too...

oh and if you think the cable has stretched then you could tie a loop in it and secure the loop with a cable tie, hence shortening it. however it does sound like it has seized.