gazeebo 3 Posted April 12, 2015 Report Share Posted April 12, 2015 Hi all, Can any helpful soul please assist with how to open the bonnet of my VR6. When pulling on the release handle nothing at all happens in regards to the opening of the bonnet...looks like the cable is either broken or it's come apart in that box thing attached to the drivers side inner wing. I've tried to follow the previous posts regarding bonnet problems but I've come unstuck in how to proceed.I've attached a picture of the metal guard thing which is behind the grill badge but I can't for the life of me work out what to do next without butchering something important or worse still putting a great big hole in the radiator. Any help would be very much appreciated. Link to post Share on other sites
gazeebo 3 Posted April 13, 2015 Author Report Share Posted April 13, 2015 Anybody help please before I end up knackering the grill/bonnet! Link to post Share on other sites
Ickyketseddie 89 Posted April 13, 2015 Report Share Posted April 13, 2015 If the cable hasn't broke you could just take the handle off inside the car and pull the cable with a pair of pliers/grips Link to post Share on other sites
gazeebo 3 Posted April 13, 2015 Author Report Share Posted April 13, 2015 Thanks for the reply Icky...I'm fairly positive the cable is broken as when pulling the handle the cable comes with it quite a bit.There's also no feel in the cable at all of it getting taut. I think it would end up pulling the cable totally through into the car if I was to pull on it with a pair of pliers.I'm fairly resigned to the fact that I might have to end up levering off the grill to give more room to get to the bonnet catch...not in less anybody else has any more thoughts on the matter. Cheers... Link to post Share on other sites
VR6Pete 1,455 Posted April 13, 2015 Report Share Posted April 13, 2015 I asked on our Facebook group for you : Link to post Share on other sites
gazeebo 3 Posted April 13, 2015 Author Report Share Posted April 13, 2015 Thanks very much Pete...my fingers are crossed. Link to post Share on other sites
craggsy 91 Posted April 13, 2015 Report Share Posted April 13, 2015 Should be able to reach up from underneath to pull on the cable. I've done it before when mines broke Link to post Share on other sites
trentster_08 0 Posted April 14, 2015 Report Share Posted April 14, 2015 I had the exact same thing happened to my girlfriends Jetta. The release cable came loose from the mechanism in the engine bay possibly buy my own error when I was replacing the crack pipe. I search for hours looking for a solution and found nothing. What I ended up having to do was ripped out the plastic grill which revealed three bolts. I took out the three bolts which disconnected the hood mechanism from the rest of the car. Then the hood will lift upand you detach it manually and put it all back together and glue or replace your grill. That is the only way to fix it there is no way to get to her from under the car or through the grill trust me I have tried Link to post Share on other sites
trentster_08 0 Posted April 14, 2015 Report Share Posted April 14, 2015 I didn't see the guys post above maybe there is a way to release it from under the car but I couldn't figure it out Link to post Share on other sites
gazeebo 3 Posted April 14, 2015 Author Report Share Posted April 14, 2015 Thanks very much for the replies guys... I'm assuming when you say 'underneath' Craggsy you mean from underneath the car and not after the grill has been removed? Might have to dig out the car ramps from the garage and give it a go.Also,did you just reach up with your hand or did you use a tool? And thanks Trentster for your idea...I'm trying to put off removing the grill with force as looking on Ebay the grills are not that wildly available,well for the VR6 in Dragon Green anyway...but that's what I may end up doing if reaching it doesn't work...using strong glue would be an idea though to attach the grill clamps/brackets back on though. Link to post Share on other sites
craggsy 91 Posted April 17, 2015 Report Share Posted April 17, 2015 Yeah get car up in air and stretch up to where it attaches on wing. It's all blind work tho unless you can somehow get a light in there Link to post Share on other sites
gazeebo 3 Posted April 28, 2015 Author Report Share Posted April 28, 2015 Hi guys, Just a quick update on the above topic... Finally managed to have a day off to tackle the bonnet problem and I'm ruddy ecstatic to announce that I've managed to release it... Good news is that the grill came off with no breakages at all...not so good news is the slightly large area off of the fibre glass/plastic guard thing in front of the catch mechanism which had to be cut(hacked) away(see pic).Luckily it can't be seen when the grill/badge is replaced and the bonnet closed. On further inspection I realised that it was indeed the little plastic box thing attached to the drivers side inner wing which had come apart resulting in the cable becoming loose. I did try reaching up from underneath the car to feel for the plastic box but had no idea at all where it was so decided to attempt the hack job. A massive thanks to 'gavinvr6' for his advice and notes on tackling it. #1- cry, lots#2- wipe your eyes and remove vw badge, if you have the stock grill,#3- drill one 10mm hole directly in the centre of the gaurd partially taking out some of the front and some of the bottom. just to the right of the metal support bar.#3 look up inside the hole for a small L shaped fork drectly behind the second release catch on the right.#4 poke this with a screw driver.#5 thank god you didnt have to destroy your car#6 use lots of cable ties to hold that useless connector block together on the drivers side inner wing VR6Pete 1 Link to post Share on other sites
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