Bonnet stuck help please

[Vince186000]

Hi all, I’m brand new to this site but desperately in need of help.

I’ve got W203 320CDI and the passenger bonnet catch is stuck.

I’ve followed every bit of advice I can find on YouTube et al but had no luck.

What I’ve tried:
- tapping in the approximate location of the bonnet catch while my partner (much to her chagrin) was roped into pulling the bonnet release - no joy
- going in through the drivers wheel arch to physically pull on the cable with a pair of pliers - no joy
- attempting to find a route through the passengers wheel arch to try to release the catch by hand/screwdriver - can’t even see the catch - although I can see cable running off to an area I can’t reach.
- driving over speed bumps with the bonnet lever held open - no joy.

Hopefully someone has some other suggestion other than just chopping a ruddy great hole in the bonnet!

 

[Vince186000]

I apologise if I’m going over old ground for some of you by asking about this.

 

[mioba]

As mentioned previous they are mechanically very simple and the only thing holding the bonnet down is the Claw on the clasp. Can you see the claw, can you for example bend a wire coat hanger in there and release the claw. This would only be possible if the bonnet is ajar after the first initial relase, ie to when you need to press the lever to activate the jaw.

On pulling the bonnet release in the footwell do you even get the first acitivation

 

[Vince186000]

Hi mioba, many thanks for the reply.

The bonnet is ajar on first release on the drivers side but remains stubbornly unreleased on the passengers side.
in think in my post I called the claw the catch but that’s what I was referring to. I can’t see from either under the car (tray obviously removed) or through the wheel arch.

I did find a video on YouTube demonstrating your idea but I can only imagine it was on a smaller engine model that has more space at the front of the engine to get to the catch/claw as I can’t see anything.

I can see the cable disappearing to where the catch/claw is, but I can neither see the catch or get a hand to it.

 

[John Laidlaw]

Tapping on the bonnet when pulling the release might not be enough, get someone to push very hard down on it whilst pulling, let go quickly and hopefully it should rebound enough.

 

[M80]

Pretty sure I managed this on a 203 years ago.
I seem to remember getting at the release at the lock from above the front grill.

If you can see the 'cam' on the lock where the cable is inserted try levering that with a long and substantial screwdriver.
The cable can stretch, but you would still see the movement while another pulls from the inside. They can rust up which also causes the stretch, or break.