Hi, I have a 1963 beetle and I cannot open the bonnet. Either the spring mechanism in the bonnet pull is broken, or there is something jammed in it, and I was wondering if anyone knows how to go about opening it? Thanks!

try this quick quiz..get a hacksaw and cut the handle in half..then screw each half off ...the lock mech stays put and you should be able to open the bonnet..have fun cheers steve

cheers Steve!!!

that was damn clever good tip

I had to do that with my 73 !, was only a couple of weeks later when I took the front left fender off that I found the shortened cable poking out through a hole..... oh well !

Hehe. I've narrowly avoided needing to do that a few times. I'd have the problem that something in the bonnet would slide and wedge the mechanism. I'd also put too much in making the mechanism jam. I'd need a helper to sit on the bonnet while I pulled the lever to undo it.

I heard somewhere before that you can reach through a hole from underneath... but the spare wheel might be in the way

Hi

Also try putting a towel through the handle, then pull down and out while using the inside lever. After it all done fit a hidden cable under the car for emergencies.

Steve

I have had a workshop use the towel trick, as well as several others to try and get the bonnet to open - all this caused was the handle to move so much is broke the paint away and dented the bonnet at that point.....

What was really disappointing was that this was the same workshop, same guys that showed me how to put a Mk 1 gold bonnet pull handle in as my stock one was broken.... They went looking in the stock location, couldnt find the handle, then started yanking on the handle.....

are you saying they broke it? if so, they can pay for the repair.

Well that was one small part of a whole saga of issues..... in the end I hassled them for 6 months to give me a bill for the time the car was at their shop, they wouldnt (they had been working on it to get it registered in their spare time). So I went in one day and gave them $400 cash and nothing more was said. They did probably about $1000 of work all told, so I'm not too bitter about the whole experience, although I did learn an awful lot in the process.

Cheers everyone!!! I tried the towel trick first, to save my bonnet handle, and the bonnet is now open. It was a problem with the alignment of the bonnet catch, and since then I have been able to open it, even when it is being irritable, by pressing on the bonnet with one hand and jerking the handle outwards over the front bumper. Thanks!