General Bonnet Release Broken

[jdm89]

Hi all,

Looking for a bit of wisdom to get around this one...I noticed when I first got my Stilo that the bonnet release wasn't fantastic, but I've been gentle with it and up until a few nights ago it was fine.

When I last pulled it though, the catch did release but there was also a snap. Today I decided to uncover the damage...

Removed the door sill to find the following (images 1-4 below).

Images:
1) The catch with the sill/handle off
2) The two shards of plastic I've managed to recover
3) Where the plastic should fit (less my thumb!)
4) The extent of play in the mechanism

From image 4 - I get the impression the actual release cable may have stretched somehow - no idea why. Car is still under warranty from when I bought it but do you reckon I'll be able to get hold of a new part myself (the plastic door fixing) or glue the existing one back together? I anticipate it being pretty expensive to fit a new cable altogether (even if covered by warranty).

Cheers guys!

Any ideas how I can go about sorting this out?

 

[keviwal]

Hi,
Yup the local mot staiton has manged to break that lever .........twice!!
I ended up making the body ( the bit that screws to the body) out of ali , hasnt broken yet
I should have made a few more as it seems to be a very common thing.
Anyway the bit you need is here ( i think)
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/FIAT-STILO-BONNET-RELEASE-LEVER-SUPPORT-ALL-MODELS-NEW-/190455832311?pt=UK_CarsParts_Vehicles_CarParts_SM&hash=item2c580d5ef7

Kind regards,

 

[jdm89]

Hey,

Thanks - is it just the handle you get with that??

I was reading your very thread earlier - thinking we were in similar positions - though the thing I am concerned about is that the cable may have stretched so if I were to get a new one/repair with glue that the same would just happen again...

Thoughts?

If I fix it convincingly, I'll post a guide up on here as it seems to affect a lot of people!

 

[keviwal]

Hey,

Thanks - is it just the handle you get with that??

I was reading your very thread earlier - thinking we were in similar positions - though the thing I am concerned about is that the cable may have stretched so if I were to get a new one/repair with glue that the same would just happen again...

Thoughts?

If I fix it convincingly, I'll post a guide up on here as it seems to affect a lot of people!

Hi,
The handle will be fine , its the bit that screws to the vehicle body you need.
Looking at the pictures you posted the cable looks fine.
As for gluing the one you have................................you wont it will fall apart again.
If i get a chance next week i may bang a few out on the cnc mill, if i still have the programme for it.
If i do get round to making any i will let you know.

Cheers for now

 

[jdm89]

The only thing is if you look at image 4 specifically, the handle is turned and the catch holding the release cable is actually outside of the housing attached to the body. I'm pretty sure it shouldn't manage to go that far before the bonnet opens - which is what I think is the problem?

I'm going to phone a dealer tomorrow to see about getting hold of a replacement. Sounds interesting what you're saying about doing a few yourself though?

 

[jdm89]

Going to phone dealer to get hold of the housing for the catch tomorrow, but does anyone know the part no. of the attached?

Thanks!

Also - any suggestions for reducing the slack in the that seems to have formed?

 

[Shadeyman]

If you PM me your VIN number I'll check the ePER I have.

Edit.

I think I found it, PN - 46784903

Part number 2 in the attached pics.

 

[jdm89]

Apologies for late reply, been working so much recently!

Cheers - part no. was right - ordered it, arrived next day and fitted, BUT.....

I really think that the cable has stretched somewhere now. I'm not sure how, but going back to the first few pictures (4th pic in first post) the mechanism actually breaks free of the housing (where it was split).

I fit the new housing, attached the cable and then tried to put the handle in the right place only to find firstly it was at an angle (i.e. not facing straight down) and then when I did turn it, the bonnet never opened as there wasn't enough space to keep turning the mechanism to pull the cable.

So my question is - is there any way to tighten the release cable? Either at the front of the car where the catch is (I can still open the bonnet but have to pull the cable myself inside the footwell) OR will I have to get a garage to look at this? I'm still under warranty, and this is by no means wear and tear, so I ain't payin for it!

Thanks

P.S. - part cost £10.30 inc vat, + £1.50 p&p - so £11.80 all in. Not bad.

 

[Shadeyman]

I'm not 100% sure but adjustment might be made by moving the lever forwards or backwards on the spline of the support.

 

[jdm89]

I took these the other day - this is what I mean (as I'm useless at describing!):

The first pic shows the handle at an angle. On the little cog on the mechanism of the housing there is only one angle the handle can fit at. So I can't move the handle round any more...

If I try and push the handle towards the bonnet then the cable actually pops out where it enters the housing (the metal part at the edge) and when I try and turn it to open bonnet it never goes far enough.

The second pic shows the new housing in place, with everything looking OK. Apart from the fact it doesn't open

The third pic attached (although done in paint :yuck tries to explain how the cable pops out if you push the handle towards the bonnet a bit better

 

[jdm89]

bump

 

[keviwal]

Well i can see the problem , you have the cable incorrectly fitted.
The white piece on the end of the cable has a groove round the end of it that fits into the grrove on the piece that is screwed to the car body, does that make sense?
Cheers for now,

 

[equinox]

keviwal [if you are still here] did you ever get to making any metal versions of the release plate - and do you have any left ?

 

[Derris]

Hi there Keviwal. Do you still have any of the parts that you made in metal.

I have a 2009 Bravo, with exactly the same problem. See attached.

 

[varesecrazy]

Thats 11 years since @keviwal posted that

 

[Derris]

Thats 11 years since @keviwal posted that

Yeah, still worth a try

 

[Davren]

Hi there Keviwal. Do you still have any of the parts that you made in metal.

I have a 2009 Bravo, with exactly the same problem. See attached.

If it's the Stilo one you're looking for, there's one on eBay here for £20: https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/17451332...9/wJDeHB5Oc0bxm0GgJQxWgdw=|tkp:Bk9SR8bH7ZfqYA
.