The hood/bonnet of my 2001 Vanden Plas will not open. I have tried all the tricks - pulled the cables with plier, the shot cable came off at the balled (rounded) end. I read somewhere that some models have a hole above the tire area where one can insert a screw driver and free the latch. Not too sure if my model has the hole. This is what I saw when I opened the plastic cover above the tire. (see pic.). Would like to know if this is the opening (where the screw driver is inserted in the photo). If my model does not have this hole, is there any other way I can open the hood without damaging the car? Please, any advice would be appreciated.

 

There are numerous threads on this problem. Do a search for HOOD RELEASE, I have attached a link to one of the larger discussions of this problem.


https://www.jaguarforums.com/forum/x...release-29427/

 

+1 to what avern1 says....I had to make a hole on mine, my cable lanyard was slipping out. But if you do have to make your own hole, be sure to prime/paint where you drilled to prevent rust, I used high temp flat black I had on the shelf from a BBQ grill spray. Also put some tape on the top of the latch hole so when you spray your new access hole so as not to get overspray on the rest of the car.

 

Thanks Avern and Highhorse.


As the photo in my original post indicates, I have tried to reach the latch through the hole in the wheel well without success. I have even expanded the hole. Is there an approximate angle and direction that the screw driver should be inserted? My screw driver doesn't seem to be able to turn/bend towards the direction of the engine. It is only able to go in vertically and bend toward the driver/passenger or toward the fender. Please folks, I need more direction on this.

 

Please use the link I posted in reply #2. Go to page 3 of the link and go to post #52 and #53. The posts are numbered in the upper right side. Post 52 has step by step instructions and post 53 has photos of what you are trying to achieve.
Follow there advice, make sure the battery is disconnected and open the drivers side first.
A quick question since both sides won't open. Have you tried putting a pair of grips on the cable ends inside the passenger compartment and pulling on the cables. It is best to know which end of the cable is broken.

 

Thanks Avern. Post #52 is very explicit. I will try it again this weekend.


As a matter of fact, I pulled the cables with a plier. One of them came off - I believe the shorter driver's side. It's less than 2ft long. The second cable is very stiff. It did not move despite the force applied. Does this point to anything?

 

Have some one pull the cable tight and go to the corner of the hood and first push down and then lift up. with the cable tight like that one side may already be released. If not you will just have to go thru the fender.
Don't forget to disconnect the battery. You are very near the high voltage bulkhead stud on the passenger side.