Bonnet release
- Jaba
- 1K Away
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- Joined: Tue Jul 05, 2005 7:54 am
- Location: Usually in the garage
- My Cars: BX GTi, C3 Auto
- x 82
Bonnet release
My favourite BX - a 1990 GTi is playing up . The bonnet wont open. The catch in the car just wont pull the cable at all.
I have tried many things - removed the RH headlight and pulled on the cable, it wont move either.
I then cut into the black plastic shroud that goes up from the bumper to the top of the fans. This enabled me to see the little release lever where the cable attaches to - see pic.
I have hooked along loop of wire around this and tugged but it is just stuck. I have also inserted a long tyre lever from the front, just below the bonnet up to the release lever and shoved with no joy. This method works on my other BXs so I reckon that the catch is just seized up .
I have tried to get at the catch from behind over the top of the rad. Access is very limited with the GTi inlet manifold and I reckon it would be impossible to undo the two bolts securing the catch from below.
So I am left with the unappealing prospect of cutting the bonnet open.
I am presuming that the catch on the GTi is the same as the one in the pic. The release cable is different. The outer goes almost all the way to the catch on the GTi but ends at the radiator on the later diesels. Is the catch the same though. If not then maybe I am not doing the right thing to force it open.
Anyone had any luck with this problem before ?? Anyone fancy a go at it themselves. I am willing to travel. Anything to save the bonnet. Anything to save the bonnet. Anything to save the bonnet.
I have tried many things - removed the RH headlight and pulled on the cable, it wont move either.
I then cut into the black plastic shroud that goes up from the bumper to the top of the fans. This enabled me to see the little release lever where the cable attaches to - see pic.
I have hooked along loop of wire around this and tugged but it is just stuck. I have also inserted a long tyre lever from the front, just below the bonnet up to the release lever and shoved with no joy. This method works on my other BXs so I reckon that the catch is just seized up .
I have tried to get at the catch from behind over the top of the rad. Access is very limited with the GTi inlet manifold and I reckon it would be impossible to undo the two bolts securing the catch from below.
So I am left with the unappealing prospect of cutting the bonnet open.
I am presuming that the catch on the GTi is the same as the one in the pic. The release cable is different. The outer goes almost all the way to the catch on the GTi but ends at the radiator on the later diesels. Is the catch the same though. If not then maybe I am not doing the right thing to force it open.
Anyone had any luck with this problem before ?? Anyone fancy a go at it themselves. I am willing to travel. Anything to save the bonnet. Anything to save the bonnet. Anything to save the bonnet.
The Joy of BX with just one Citroën BX to my name now. Will I sing Bye Bye to my GTI or will it be Till death us do part.
- docchevron
- The Immoderate half of the admin team
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IIRC its the outer part of the cable that releases the latch..
Are you able to get a very long screwdriver to the lever on the bottom of the latch and give it a thump with a hamer? Always worked for me.
Are you able to get a very long screwdriver to the lever on the bottom of the latch and give it a thump with a hamer? Always worked for me.
Smokes lots, because enough's enough already!
Far too many BX's, a bus, an ambulance a few trucks, not enough time and never enough cash...
Far too many BX's, a bus, an ambulance a few trucks, not enough time and never enough cash...
- Jaba
- 1K Away
- Posts: 1897
- Joined: Tue Jul 05, 2005 7:54 am
- Location: Usually in the garage
- My Cars: BX GTi, C3 Auto
- x 82
Yo Doc - thanks for the reply. Yes I have tried all that I know to open the bonnet. I can do it easily on my other BXs. This one however is stuck solid.
Is the catch mechanism the same on all BXs ? Mine have slightly different outer release cable lengths and terminations. I want to be sure I am doing th eright thing.
The release lever is just solid though.
Is the catch mechanism the same on all BXs ? Mine have slightly different outer release cable lengths and terminations. I want to be sure I am doing th eright thing.
The release lever is just solid though.
The Joy of BX with just one Citroën BX to my name now. Will I sing Bye Bye to my GTI or will it be Till death us do part.
- docchevron
- The Immoderate half of the admin team
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I have to say mate, I've never seen any changes to the release mechanism on any BX that I've seen.
Ok, this may sound brutal, but have you tried getting someone to hold the release lever out, then bounce very hard on the bonnet in a downward direction, then tug it very hard upwards?
Another way (one I've used before but on a 14 leader) was to get the car in the air, and using a mirror and a VERY long spanner in conjuction with a mirror was to put my arm up behind the rad and using the mirror and witchcraft get the spanner on the bolts that hold the latch to the bonnet and undo them. Although access on a GTi will be much tighter to "get it up there".
I'll give this some ore thought and get back to you mate.
Ok, this may sound brutal, but have you tried getting someone to hold the release lever out, then bounce very hard on the bonnet in a downward direction, then tug it very hard upwards?
Another way (one I've used before but on a 14 leader) was to get the car in the air, and using a mirror and a VERY long spanner in conjuction with a mirror was to put my arm up behind the rad and using the mirror and witchcraft get the spanner on the bolts that hold the latch to the bonnet and undo them. Although access on a GTi will be much tighter to "get it up there".
I'll give this some ore thought and get back to you mate.
Smokes lots, because enough's enough already!
Far too many BX's, a bus, an ambulance a few trucks, not enough time and never enough cash...
Far too many BX's, a bus, an ambulance a few trucks, not enough time and never enough cash...
- DavidRutherford
- BX Digit man!
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It depends which of the two pivot points are siezed. It may be that you've move the release lever all the way over, and it has no more travel left, and in actual fact it's the upper pivot (the other shiney rivet in the picture you've posted) that's actually siezed. If so, then with the release lever all the way to the "release" position, you may need to pull up on the bonnet (as Doc suggests) to get the catch to completely release.
this might be a signature
- Jaba
- 1K Away
- Posts: 1897
- Joined: Tue Jul 05, 2005 7:54 am
- Location: Usually in the garage
- My Cars: BX GTi, C3 Auto
- x 82
Thanks for the ideas guys.
Yes I have tried tugging the bonnet upwards while pushing on the release lever. I hear slight cracking noises from the resin in the bonnet so dare not use more force.
I think the upper pivot is ok because I can push the bonnet down a bit and it springs back up again - consistent with the spring being tensioned and pushing up on the catch.
I think it is the lower pivot thats stuffed. It is rock solid and wont move at all even when shoved on by my lever.
There is just not enough room to get over the top of the rad and locate the two 13mm fixing bolts. Its a GTi, the inlet manifold is a large one, I have moved the engine back the small distance it will go with the bottom mounting link removed.
I had the bonnet resprayed only recently. I am well fed up with this. So as I said in my first post - anyone else fancy having a go ???
Yes I have tried tugging the bonnet upwards while pushing on the release lever. I hear slight cracking noises from the resin in the bonnet so dare not use more force.
I think the upper pivot is ok because I can push the bonnet down a bit and it springs back up again - consistent with the spring being tensioned and pushing up on the catch.
I think it is the lower pivot thats stuffed. It is rock solid and wont move at all even when shoved on by my lever.
There is just not enough room to get over the top of the rad and locate the two 13mm fixing bolts. Its a GTi, the inlet manifold is a large one, I have moved the engine back the small distance it will go with the bottom mounting link removed.
I had the bonnet resprayed only recently. I am well fed up with this. So as I said in my first post - anyone else fancy having a go ???
The Joy of BX with just one Citroën BX to my name now. Will I sing Bye Bye to my GTI or will it be Till death us do part.
- DavidRutherford
- BX Digit man!
- Posts: 2706
- Joined: Wed May 18, 2005 5:07 pm
- Location: Placing comments on YouTube.
- docchevron
- The Immoderate half of the admin team
- Posts: 7524
- Joined: Sun Jun 04, 2006 7:03 pm
- Location: A Bucket of Fish
- x 7
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- Jaba
- 1K Away
- Posts: 1897
- Joined: Tue Jul 05, 2005 7:54 am
- Location: Usually in the garage
- My Cars: BX GTi, C3 Auto
- x 82
The thing about this is, it is unusual. I am able to open both my other BXs with a tyre lever from the front of the bonnet.
This one however is just stuck solid. That lever will not move either way.
I will have a go at it from the LH headlamp tomorrow if I can get it off. The RH headlamp came apart during the prising off process so I will naturally be less enthusiastic when I attempt removal of the other one.
This one however is just stuck solid. That lever will not move either way.
I will have a go at it from the LH headlamp tomorrow if I can get it off. The RH headlamp came apart during the prising off process so I will naturally be less enthusiastic when I attempt removal of the other one.
The Joy of BX with just one Citroën BX to my name now. Will I sing Bye Bye to my GTI or will it be Till death us do part.
- docchevron
- The Immoderate half of the admin team
- Posts: 7524
- Joined: Sun Jun 04, 2006 7:03 pm
- Location: A Bucket of Fish
- x 7
- Contact:
hhmm, I shant be able to get out your way for a while, things are stoopid busy round here right now, but should be near Bristol or Strouyd at any point then give us a shout. I would PM you my number, but I cant, since my PM has died on here, perhaps Billy or Vanny or someone that has my number could do the honours please?
If you need a spare headlamp I have a small number left in the Stroud area, actually I'd better check since I seem to remember the stash was depleting rapidly!
Hope you get it sorted, but if not I'm around most mornings and most weekends, although there must be a member on here with some expertese closer?? Anyone?
I dont know why but I thought you were in New Zealand! Go figure! I dont even use drugs......
If you need a spare headlamp I have a small number left in the Stroud area, actually I'd better check since I seem to remember the stash was depleting rapidly!
Hope you get it sorted, but if not I'm around most mornings and most weekends, although there must be a member on here with some expertese closer?? Anyone?
I dont know why but I thought you were in New Zealand! Go figure! I dont even use drugs......
Smokes lots, because enough's enough already!
Far too many BX's, a bus, an ambulance a few trucks, not enough time and never enough cash...
Far too many BX's, a bus, an ambulance a few trucks, not enough time and never enough cash...
- Jaba
- 1K Away
- Posts: 1897
- Joined: Tue Jul 05, 2005 7:54 am
- Location: Usually in the garage
- My Cars: BX GTi, C3 Auto
- x 82
Well I have tried everything. The little catch has had a lot of force applied to it and as it wont move to the right and release the bonnet it has started to bend backwards.
What to do ?????????
The bonnet is now marked up for drilling
Shall I use the drill in the picture to irrevocably screw the bonnet - none of the other tools I have used in the pic have worked so far
Doc I haven't heard from anyone about your number so haven't been able to call you.
What to do ?????????
The bonnet is now marked up for drilling
Shall I use the drill in the picture to irrevocably screw the bonnet - none of the other tools I have used in the pic have worked so far
Doc I haven't heard from anyone about your number so haven't been able to call you.
The Joy of BX with just one Citroën BX to my name now. Will I sing Bye Bye to my GTI or will it be Till death us do part.
- docchevron
- The Immoderate half of the admin team
- Posts: 7524
- Joined: Sun Jun 04, 2006 7:03 pm
- Location: A Bucket of Fish
- x 7
- Contact:
- Jaba
- 1K Away
- Posts: 1897
- Joined: Tue Jul 05, 2005 7:54 am
- Location: Usually in the garage
- My Cars: BX GTi, C3 Auto
- x 82
Doc is a star. My bonnet is now OPEN.
The reason I was failing is that there are two types of catch. The changeover must have been in 1990/1. Yeh, before someone else says it ---theres always a catch !!
The early catch which I was struggling with has the inner cable connected to a fixed bracket and the outer moves the lever which does the opening. I was trying to move this fixed bracket and getting nowhere.
Once we had looked at a catch on Doc's valver we new what to do. It was simply a case of cutting out the plastic fan shroud to get access.
So I must join others in going public with the fact the Doc is a real genuine star. He is prepared to give up his time and share his expertise with other clubbers to help keep the BXs on the road.
So if he ever wants a new hard disk fitted to his PC then I am his man.
The reason I was failing is that there are two types of catch. The changeover must have been in 1990/1. Yeh, before someone else says it ---theres always a catch !!
The early catch which I was struggling with has the inner cable connected to a fixed bracket and the outer moves the lever which does the opening. I was trying to move this fixed bracket and getting nowhere.
Once we had looked at a catch on Doc's valver we new what to do. It was simply a case of cutting out the plastic fan shroud to get access.
So I must join others in going public with the fact the Doc is a real genuine star. He is prepared to give up his time and share his expertise with other clubbers to help keep the BXs on the road.
So if he ever wants a new hard disk fitted to his PC then I am his man.
The Joy of BX with just one Citroën BX to my name now. Will I sing Bye Bye to my GTI or will it be Till death us do part.