Sticking Bonnet

[DesertSprite]

Hello,

The bonnet seems to be sticking on my '65 Sprite. I pull the release lever inside the car, but the latch up front doesn't seem to be releasing the bonnet. I finally had my Wife reach up behind the grill and pull the cable...not something she's going to want to do everytime I want to see the beasts engine.

Is there any way to adjust the cable? Is there a common place where the cables break? Hard to replace?

Thanks,
Joel

/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/patriot.gif

 

[Matthew E. Herd]

I changed mine as it became sticky. Apparently it's a real bear to change the cable's sleeve, but if you buy a new cable and carefully grease it, then thread it through the old sleeve, it should be fine. Mine is now much smoother, and the job only took about 20 minutes (at most). I believe the part was about 17 dollars from my favorite distributor.

 

[DesertSprite]

Thanks for the reply. Are there any adjustments that you had to do to the cable? I'm guessing the cable just gets stretched-out over the years.

Joel

 

[spritenut]

You might have to adjust the cable at the bonnet or adjust the bonnet peg.
Also I always run an extra bonnet release wire out to the inside of the fender. Just use a piece of solid wire and wrap it around a large washer. Now you can open the bonnet from outside the car which makes life a bit easier. Not that we need to get under the bonnet that much /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif And it also is an insurance policy for when the bonnet cable breaks.
1500 owners will have a tough time with a screwdriver thru the grille to open a bonnet if that cable breaks.

 

[DesertSprite]

Ah...good idea Spritenut. The cable does seem to have lost its tension. I'll have to get to it this weekend as I'd like to clean out the engine bay that the PO left a bit (A LOT) dirty.

Joel