Releasing bonnet

[Silver mechanic]

My young son has a Ford Focus Zetec TDCi 2006 I discovered when I had to replace one of his dipped headlamps I could not release the bonnet/hood. Headlamp fuse ok. Can anyone tell me how I can overcome this problem myself.

[02fordsvt]

Do you know why you can't get it open? Is the cable broken or is the latch simply seized up?

[iminhell]

Also, are we talking about unlocking the hood (located under the front Ford badge)?
Or the release cable?

IIRC, if the hood is locked from the front, the cable will be disabled.

[Silver mechanic]

Originally Posted by 02fordsvt

Do you know why you can't get it open? Is the cable broken or is the latch simply seized up?

The latch is not seized. Nothing happens when I turn the key so I assume that the cable may be broke/disengaged. What have to do to get into the engine compartment?

[Silver mechanic]

Originally Posted by iminhell

Also, are we talking about unlocking the hood (located under the front Ford badge)?
Or the release cable?

IIRC, if the hood is locked from the front, the cable will be disabled.

So how do I get into the engine compartment?

[02fordsvt]

The cable I'm referring to runs from the latch into the cockpit above the drivers foot well. I don't know much about Euro cars and less about second gen Euro cars so I don't know if yours has one of those cable or not, but look inside and see if you can find it.

The only other ideas I can come up with right now is destroying something which I assume you do not want to do. One you can do if it seems to be a problem with the lock is take it to a locksmith and see if they can pick the lock and get the latch to disengage.

[Silver mechanic]

Originally Posted by 02fordsvt

The cable I'm referring to runs from the latch into the cockpit above the drivers foot well. I don't know much about Euro cars and less about second gen Euro cars so I don't know if yours has one of those cable or not, but look inside and see if you can find it.

The only other ideas I can come up with right now is destroying something which I assume you do not want to do. One you can do if it seems to be a problem with the lock is take it to a locksmith and see if they can pick the lock and get the latch to disengage.

Thanks I'll look for the cable inside the car, but what ever it is needs doing, I have to get into the engine compartment. Do you think I'll be able to get up between the radiator and the grille to undo the latch.

[zetecDon]

Moved to "General Technical Chat". What the problem might be is the tumbler in the hood lock has gone screwy. I have heard of this being a problem and there was a remedy for it some where but I can't remember where I saw it. I just remember that the person had to get the hood lock removed and had to replace it with a new one. You might want to check with your local comrades to get a better answer as most of us in North America use a hood release cable instead of the hood lock system.