jezmoz 0 Posted November 22, 2005 Report Share Posted November 22, 2005 Yesterday was probably one of the worst days i've had with the car. The curse of the vr strook big time. I left work and thought i'll pop into barryfords to get some demisting stuff (rain x). Came out of halfords and went to start the car, no dice. I knew that one of the battery terminals keeps coming loose ( i don't know why? it's tightened, it just doesn't grip). So i went to pop the bonnet, no response (it wouldn't open!!!!) So I took the grill off, breaking the top clips , thinking i'd be able to tug at the wire and open the bonnet, nope wont budge!! So i had a look and i could see the battery terminal, it was just slightly off (but wasn't the usual neagtive, it was the +), so i took a windscreen wiper off the car, not the blade the metal bit and poked around under tiny gap in the bonnet (the man in halfords leant me a torch, pliers and socket set (it was dark). After two hours in halford car park looking like a complete tosser i finally managed to poke the terminal on, went to start the car and BINGO, it started 8) . Drove home and realised that this would probably happen again and i needed to get the bonnet working. After reading on here a thread about the same thing i phoned pete8tch realising he'd had the same problem. The realisation that I would have to ruin the car came to light and I began sawing at the fibre glass (to the annoyance of the neighbours) to reveal the nuts that hold the bonnet lock, this was simple enough, but once i could actually see the nuts they were in an awkward postition, not quite enough room for a socket or spanner, I spent a good hour getting these nuts off, tiny bit of movement every turn, absolutely no leaverage. Finally got the bonnet open, the cable was still attached!!! I think the cable may be stretched because the catch seems to work fine when i manually move it! Q 1. How can i stop the terminals from coming off (they are tight) but still come off by hand easily! 2. Should i replace both the bonnet cable and catch or just the cable?3. Should i replace the fibre glass i've damaged, it holds the chassis number plate on it!4. Why did i buy an old car??Moral of the story, replace your bonnet cable while you can Link to post Share on other sites
six appeal 53 Posted November 22, 2005 Report Share Posted November 22, 2005 The bonnet cable is a 2 piece item, think you'll find the connector (about half way up the drivers side inner wing) has snapped, as this is what happened to mine.No need to bust the fibreglass to undo the bonnet, remove the grille and then just pop the lever to open the catch. To stop the terminals comming loose, first replace the nut/bolts on the terminals as these often loose there thread easily and so will not tighten up enough, and rough up the poles of the batteries themselves to stop the connectors slipping off.Hope this helps,Simon. Link to post Share on other sites
jezmoz 0 Posted November 22, 2005 Author Report Share Posted November 22, 2005 The bonnet cable is a 2 piece item' date=' think you'll find the connector (about half way up the drivers side inner wing) has snapped, as this is what happened to mine.No need to bust the fibreglass to undo the bonnet, remove the grille and then just pop the lever to open the catch. To stop the terminals comming loose, first replace the nut/bolts on the terminals as these often loose there thread easily and so will not tighten up enough, and rough up the poles of the batteries themselves to stop the connectors slipping off.Hope this helps,Simon.[/quote']The mid section clip was fine, i tried everything to 'pop the lever', it wouldn't budge, so had no choice but to butcher. The cable must be stretched???the thread on the nuts on the terminals are fine, but i will try roughing the poles , cheers Link to post Share on other sites
jezmoz 0 Posted November 22, 2005 Author Report Share Posted November 22, 2005 six appeal could you enlighten me as to how you popped the leaver with the grill removed???? I could feel the catch, but the mechanism that is released when you pull the handle was solid, i tried for hours!!!! Link to post Share on other sites
Buzzark 0 Posted November 22, 2005 Report Share Posted November 22, 2005 Sorry to hear of your troubles. Have you got the correct battery fitted?If your battery has tapered terminals and the clamps are straight cut, they'll always slip off. Had this on another car before, changing the battery to one with straight sided terminals cured it. Link to post Share on other sites
jezmoz 0 Posted November 22, 2005 Author Report Share Posted November 22, 2005 the terminals are round as are the battery poles , the terminals wont seem to tighten to it, they were fine when i first had it fitted Link to post Share on other sites
pete8tch 0 Posted November 22, 2005 Report Share Posted November 22, 2005 how much did you cut off the fibreglass then jez couple of inches i said !si. on a mk3 the lock is shrouded to stop you opening the bonnet security thing i suppose Link to post Share on other sites
six appeal 53 Posted November 22, 2005 Report Share Posted November 22, 2005 It is shrouded, but you can get around it with a lever as I did ;o)If the cable itself is all ok, it may be the actual release mechanism itself knackered then or stiff?Simon. Link to post Share on other sites
jezmoz 0 Posted November 22, 2005 Author Report Share Posted November 22, 2005 I tried just cutting a section out but couldn't get tio the nuts so i cut all round it about the size of a letterbox (basically all round the lock area to give me room to get a spanner in, because i couldn't get to the nuts with any of the tools i had. You can't see it with the grill on. Link to post Share on other sites
Buzzark 0 Posted November 22, 2005 Report Share Posted November 22, 2005 the terminals are round as are the battery poles ' date=' the terminals wont seem to tighten to it, they were fine when i first had it fitted[/quote']If they fit together flushly then it can only be the bolts/nuts stopping you getting enough clamping pressure. Link to post Share on other sites
jezmoz 0 Posted November 22, 2005 Author Report Share Posted November 22, 2005 It is shrouded' date=' but you can get around it with a lever as I did ;o)Simon.[/quote']sorry but i can't see how you did this, unless you have minature hands and a tool that can do an 's' bend ! :| Link to post Share on other sites
six appeal 53 Posted November 22, 2005 Report Share Posted November 22, 2005 It is shrouded' date=' but you can get around it with a lever as I did ;o)Simon.[/quote']sorry but i can't see how you did this, unless you have minature hands and a tool that can do an 's' bend ! :| Only explanation I can think of is the front panels being different then mate, as I had my cable snap on me ages ago and managed to get the grille off and unhook the bonnet with out damaging anything besides a small nick in the grille.I did a post on it on here at the time, as I was as P*ss*d off as you were at the time (Simon. Link to post Share on other sites
pete8tch 0 Posted November 22, 2005 Report Share Posted November 22, 2005 i was leaping up and down when mine went , i had just stripped out my car and needed to get at the nuts in the plenum .i spat my dummy big time Link to post Share on other sites
jezmoz 0 Posted November 23, 2005 Author Report Share Posted November 23, 2005 looking like a new front panel Link to post Share on other sites
Hoppa 0 Posted November 23, 2005 Report Share Posted November 23, 2005 Sorry to hear this mate, must be the curse of the blue to black change!, two weeks after the swap my headgasket(s) decided to give up! I'm currently having to drive a very tappy vr...praying it don't seize b4 i get it fixed! Link to post Share on other sites
pete8tch 0 Posted November 23, 2005 Report Share Posted November 23, 2005 well was he on the carpark helpin you get in or did he tell you how then ? bet he didnt . Link to post Share on other sites
six appeal 53 Posted November 23, 2005 Report Share Posted November 23, 2005 looking like a new front panel Link to post Share on other sites
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