My hood won't open on my '98 X308 Vanden Plas. I checked the cables under the dash that hook to the "Hood Open" latch but they will not open the hood. Is there a method to open the hood in this instance? I'm in a bind on this and don't want to drive the car until this is fixed.
Any help will be greatly appreciated!

firstchoice

 

After reviewing many of the old posts about hood opening problems here, I ran across a thread with a lot of helpful info on this subject;

https://www.jaguarforums.com/forum/xj-xj8-xjr-x308-27/99-xjr-hood-passenger-catch-doesnt-release-29427/page5/


firstchoice

 

It's Vanden Plas with a "V". I can see how you could mistake it for an "L" with the script used for the X308 badge.





As an aside to your actual question but a useful bit of history. The original coach building company was founded in Brussels by Guillaume van den Plas (a Dutchman whose last name means "from the lake") and passed through several owners in England after WW1 before closing in 1979. The name was used on top-of- the-range Jaguars (or Daimlers in the UK) and continues to be used in the US to date. It cannot be used any longer in the UK because the rights to the name belong to Rover.

Graham

 

Wow, that's embarrassing! Talk about a Senior Moment! I actually know how it's spelled and simply mucked it up. Tired, I guess.

Thanks for the history on the Vanden Plas, too. I had always wondered about the name. Good to know! Thanks Graham!

firstchoice

 

No worry, Greg, sometimes the keyboard just does not want to cooperate!

 

I drilled a hole in mine today. What a pain. Replaced both cables, and the handle. Works like a charm now. I used a 1 inch holesaw.

 

It might be wise to prevent a repeat.