The bonnet on my Terra cannot be opened. This is not the classic scenario where a pull on the lever whilst tugging on the bonnet will suffice.

The symptoms are:
- The bonnet feels loose in the catch and as if practically open, but no amount of force will prise it up. It also can't be pushed back down to the fully closed position.
- The secondary (safety) catch does not quite engage, so it's not that.
- The lever in the car feels as if it is still pulling a cable that is attached.

How do I get the bonnet open if I can't access the catch due to the SEAT bonnet design which comes down over the front of the car?

Can't get the grille off. The bottom fixings are loose, but I can't shift the top ones. Anyone know how to do this from outside?

hmmm that is odd...maybe the catch has moved when was last closed. Can you reach up from underneath to loosen the nuts which hold the catch mechanism on? Then maybe some jiggling around will allow it to open up?

Maybe if you are able to get the grill off then you could reach the catch mechanism more easily. I think they just clip on with some bendy tangs that push into a slot in the front panel...

Hope that helps.

Si

Hi Si.
Can't get to the nuts due to too much engine in the way.

I think I might have a chance to fiddle with catch if the grille was off, but I can't get the top clips off.

Can someone confirm the top fixings on the grille? It is not visible underneath due to unique SEAT design and they don't seem to work like the bottom fixings did.

I'd rather not snap the grille, but I will if I have to!

I have in the past managed to open a stuck Panda bonnet by reaching up between the radiator and engine and operating the latch by hand. I don't know the setup on the Terra so don't know if it's possible, but presume you have tried since you can't get to the nuts.

Maybe it has twisted fwd or back? If it won't compress down either.
If I were you, I would try pushing front of bonnet back towards windscreen and lifting while your assistant pulls on the cable. Then I would similarly try pushing to each side in turn, and then pulling forward, just in case.
As to the top fixings on the grille; nightmare. On mine, I got them loosened only to realise that the originals had been replaced with hugely overlong bolts that couldn't be manoeuvred out. And even when I got the grille off, it didn't really help sort my problem. Reaching up from below is the accepted wisdom, but again; nightmare.
Guess this isn't really helping, sorry. But I would look at misalignment and see whether a bit of judicious twisting and pushing frees something up.
Failing that, leave it in any city carpark and leave a note on the windscreen that you've locked your wallet in the engine bay...turn your back and 10 seconds later - hey presto, all 4 wheels will be gone ...
Mate; good luck.

Hope this is helpful

Thanks for the suggestions guys. All good really including multi can opening tool.

I'm gonna give it one more session of tugging and swearing and then I will be looking at smashing the grille or the least expensive/ most effective thing to smash in order to get to the latch bolts which I think is the radiator.

Lewey, here are some photos of the fixings at the top of my marbellas grille:



Bendy tang needs to be pushed down somehow...maybe use a andled peice of metal and lever of edge of bonnet?...


Only thing is they might've changed designs I think...mine is 1990.

Hope you get somewhere without having to break it. Really can't think of many other options though which is a shame.

maybe spray lube at the mech in case it just needs freeing up?

Hopefully the grille can be taken off by pushing the tang down somehow, though it will be hard to do so in such a tight space. If you do have to break the grille then I know there's a Marbella being parted out in the Facebook group (Panda Classic UK) so you could always ask if they have one available.