Hi there!

New member here, had my Subaru Impreza for 4 years now and only having the first major thing go wrong on it and looking for some advice! I have a 59 plate hatchback type (2.0 not WRX).

My battery has gone flat due to the lockdown and not being in it for 3 weeks and I went to pull the bonnet release inside the car and nothing happened. The cable has snapped at the bonnet end (rusted and frayed) and now I can't get access to the bonnet to either replace the cable or charge the battery! I had breakdown cover come out today to look at it and they took one look at it and said the only way in or even to charge the battery is via the grill which doesn't come off without the bumper or access under the bonnet. Meaning I'd need to cut the grill out and then replace it with a new one!!

Is this the only way I can now gain access to the bonnet since the cable has snapped? I'm due to take it to a garage because it's a bit much for me as a newbie to touching cars, and I'd rather not do more damage than good. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

 

I've done this on a hatch , use a long extension, ratchet and wobbly head 12mm socket through the grill and you can unbolt the striker that the latch latches on to then just pull the bonnet up.
It's a bit fiddly but easy enough to do.

 

Hi!

thanks for getting back to me. I may be being a bit stupid but could you elaborate or send a picture? I think I know what you mean, how do you get the socket far enough up to the latch without damaging the grill?

 

couple of threads re bonnet catch - might give you some info

https://www.scoobynet.com/scoobynet-...t-working.html

https://www.scoobynet.com/scoobynet-...the-alarm.html

 

i had the exact same issue on my blob and could not get inside the car to pull the latch. The way i managed to do it was use some small cable rods and feed it between the grill holes on an angle and you can just about push the lever that frees the bonnet. very fiddly and had to use a torch to see what i was pushing on. It worked for me but like i said this was a blob shape. hopefully it should be the same latch. worse case scenario is that you may need to butcher the grill with a dremmel or something and make the hole very small so you dont need to replace the grill ?

 

Thanks for your responses. I think the entire cable has gone so I think the only way to get it open is to get behind the latch. I’m accepting it’s a bit too much of a fiddly/experienced job and sending it to the garage!