Stuck S4 Bonnet Latch

[Gardog]

One of the two bonnet releases has managed to engage itself on the wrong side of the catch on the bonnet. I have tried fiddling, prying and manipulating the bonnet in order to get it to release but no luck. The standard bonnet spring is in place which seems to limit my options.

Does anyone know of any tricks to get it unstuck?

Gary

[types26/36]

Unless the latch screws have been put in wrongly (with the screw heads under the bonnet) the screws can be removed from in side the car on the bulkhead.

[Grizzly]

If the spire clip is fitted on the wrong side it's not to hard to break the clip with a small screw driver or turn the end of the screw with a pair of pliers (much easier if you have two individual clips rather than the original double)

Bit of a pain to do but i didn't like the clip on the 'correct' side (i rather have the head of the screw on the engine side) so i made sure i could remove the catch if some thing happened that way round and it wasn't too hard..

[1owner69Elan]

When you do get the bonnet open again, get rid of the original S4 latches that allow this catching on the back side. Use the later, improved latches that avoid this problem. Closed on the back side so can?t catch and lock the bonnet down.

https://paulmattysportscars.co.uk/produ ... nnet-clip/

[Sking06]

In the past, I have used a thin metal strip (stiff metal ruler) between the bonnet and body to move the release in the opposite direction until it let go.

[Gardog]

Thank you all for your advice. I went away on vacation and came back to the problem with a fresh outlook and an altogether better attitude.

I was able to get at the latch screws from under the dash. The latch didn't separate from the body as I expected however I was able to use a thin tool to push the latch far enough forward to release the bonnet.

I will make a point of carrying the necessary tools with me until I can replace or modify the latches.

Gary