Hood (Bonnet) Release Cable

[David T]

The hood release on my car didn't seem to be working right so I started investigating. The cable was very frayed by the handle and as I touched it pieces of wire started falling and one got stuck in my finger. With that the cable just came right out of the bolt and there were only 3-4 strands left that were not broken off. This is a known problem. The cable is made to bend as the handle swings in an arc as it pulls the cable. All of the flexing is concentrated right where the cable enters the bolt. I can replace the cable as it was but it is still prone to this failure. The other problem is you need a cable with a ball of lead attached to an end. I am going to see how feasible it is to improve on this so all you need is a 3 foot piece of 1/16" cable that you can get anywhere and it wont break like this anymore. In the meantime all owners should install a back-up cable and inspect the primary cable for fraying by the bolt.
David Teitelbaum

[thirdmanj]

Wal-Mart. Bike cable repair kit. $7. Enough new cables to cover at least 4 "broken cable events". Highly recomended.

[Cory W]

I need to take a picture of my "Cable". It's more like one solid wire. I'll be at my car again tomorrow, so will pack my camera.

I also have a back-up cable, since it was suggested that if mine goes, it will happen all at once without warning. It was on my car when I got it (June 2008!), and is still going strong today. Take from that what you may :)

[pezzonovante88]

I definitely need to install a new cable as mine is quite frayed at the handle, as well.

[Nicholas R]

I went to a local bike shop and bought a piece of brake cable for a few bucks and put it in as a backup. When the original line broke, I just swapped them. I fed the brake cable through the sleeve and hooked it up to the handle, then used the original cable as an emergency backup, tied up under the dash. The brake cable is at least twice as thick as the original so I'm not really concerned with it breaking.

[SoCalDMC12]

The cable was very frayed by the handle and as I touched it pieces of wire started falling and one got stuck in my finger. With that the cable just came right out of the bolt and there were only 3-4 strands left that were not broken off.

This is exactly what happened to me a few months ago. Fortunately, I was able to pull the cable with a set of pliers (I needed to gas up), and made it home. It's fixed now, and I installed an emergency release cable (5 minutes worth of work = invaluable insurance).

[Cory W]

OK, Monday was....hectic. Today I bring pics of my solid "cable"

From the inside:
10179

And in the trunk.
10180

Note the backup cable below the main cable, as well as the current (open) latch position. Along with this setup, my car came with no return spring on the release lever, which I personally like (it allows me to raise and lower the hood while working on the car without needing to pull that damn handle every time I want to reopen it)

[David T]

After looking over my options I stuck a bicycle cable in. I spent a little extra for a very flexible cable with a silicone covering. What I may try doing later is "flipping" the whole thing around and putting the cable in the other way so the end by the handle can pivot and the locking bolt is on the latch where it is a pure, straight pull. I always had the back-up cable but since this all happened with the hood unlocked I didn't have any worries about getting it open.
David Teitelbaum

[pezzonovante88]

I just installed a new trunk release cable in my car, but I'm not quite sure how one goes about securely attaching the end of the cable to the release lever.... Does anyone have any close up pictures of the mechanism?

[thirdmanj]

I just installed a new trunk release cable in my car, but I'm not quite sure how one goes about securely attaching the end of the cable to the release lever.... Does anyone have any close up pictures of the mechanism?

There should be a screw with a hole drilled laterally through the shank. The cable then goes through that hole, and is secured by a nut.

[thirdmanj]

http://img.tapatalk.com/46a04793-c1e2-d59e.jpg

Can you see that ok? The cable goes through the bolt, there is a washer between the cable ant the lever, then the nut just screws on.

[pezzonovante88]

Can you see that ok? The cable goes through the bolt, there is a washer between the cable ant the lever, then the nut just screws on.

Thanks very much for the pic. So the cable is essentially just 'squeezed' between the nut and washer?

[thirdmanj]

Thanks very much for the pic. So the cable is essentially just 'squeezed' between the nut and washer?

That's right. But the cable should be going through that special bolt, otherwise you'll have a hell of a time getting it to stay I think.

[pezzonovante88]

That's right. But the cable should be going through that special bolt, otherwise you'll have a hell of a time getting it to stay I think.

Do you think the bolt would be available at a hardware store? I can't really find it on DMCH's website?

[thirdmanj]

Do you think the bolt would be available at a hardware store? I can't really find it on DMCH's website?

I couldn't find it either. My dumbass lost mine when I had to repair my cable. I had to find a similar bolt and nut, and I went to my mechanic and had him drill a hole through the shank so as to fit the diameter of the cable. If that doesn't work for you, throttle cables use a similar style bolt nut combination to hold their cables.

[pezzonovante88]

I couldn't find it either. My dumbass lost mine when I had to repair my cable. I had to find a similar bolt and nut, and I went to my mechanic and had him drill a hole through the shank so as to fit the diameter of the cable. If that doesn't work for you, throttle cables use a similar style bolt nut combination to hold their cables.

Hmm. Okay then, to be continued. Thanks very much for your help!

[njrotcusa]

Do I need to use any kind of lube when I run the new cable through the tube?

[pezzonovante88]

Do I need to use any kind of lube when I run the new cable through the tube?

Shouldn't need to. I didn't.

[opethmike]

Do I need to use any kind of lube when I run the new cable through the tube?

Yes, I used:

http://iusedtohavehair.files.wordpress.com/2010/10/astroglide.jpg

[thirdmanj]

Yes, I used:

http://iusedtohavehair.files.wordpress.com/2010/10/astroglide.jpg

I resisted the urge, but I'm glad mike couldn't... ;)

[njrotcusa]

So the entire job is fairly easy?

[thirdmanj]

So the entire job is fairly easy?

Oh yeah dude. Super simple. Just pull the old cable out, eyeball the old one side by side with the new cable adding a little for good measure, and make your cut. Then run the new cable through the old housing, sending the end through the special bolt, tighten the nut and you're GTG! That simple.

Btw, "njrotc"? Naval Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps?

[Jonathan]

http://img.tapatalk.com/46a04793-c1e2-d59e.jpg

Can you see that ok? The cable goes through the bolt, there is a washer between the cable ant the lever, then the nut just screws on.

James' picture shows the set-up pretty well. My cable was frayed and was snapped by my mechanic the first year I had the car. The hood was open, so didn't have that issue and feeding through a replacement cable was ok. I also went in later and installed a back-up cable much like Cory did in an earlier picture. My connection to the latch is a bit different though.

One thing from James' picture is to me where you can see how the cable rubs at the point where it leaves the cable sheath, and takes a right angled turn to attach to the nut. I think this rub point is where mine got weak. I am guessing if there were some sort of smooth material right on that lip of the sheath, it would help make the cable last. Like some nylon or something that wouldn't dig into the wire cable over time.

16910

[njrotcusa]

Yes, you are correct.

Hood cable fixed.

Off to the next project of smog, louvre and t-panel repair.

[thirdmanj]

Yes, you are correct.

Hood cable fixed.

Off to the next project of smog, louvre and t-panel repair.

Good to hear, and best of luck on the rest of your repairs!

[Jimmycxc]

Definitely not the best way to do it, but my cable become loose and let go. I wrapped the frayed ends around the nut, and epoxied the cable strands to the nut. Been holding for over 10 years without a problem. I should get a back up cable none the less.

[David T]

If the cable is frayed you should have replaced it. Gluing it only makes replacement a bigger, messier job. Eventually every cable will fray and need replacement.
David Teitelbaum