Just tried to open my bonnet, key won't bl**dy latch, and just swivels...

What are my options?

It's either break it or jack up the car and remove the radiator bolts and swivel it out the way and get your hands up there with a socket wrench and unbolt the lock. Then you will have to order a new stalk and barrel. 

8 minutes ago, F0CUE said:

It's either break it or jack up the car and remove the radiator bolts and swivel it out the way and get your hands up there with a socket wrench and unbolt the lock. Then you will have to order a new stalk and barrel. 

Thanks Ian, on your advice, have just ordered this on Ebay... 

Will try and get a proper man to do repair sometime next week, fingers crossed!

It's may not be the barrel though more than likely the end that goes into the lock as its all plastic and if it moves out of place it's pooped. 

1 minute ago, F0CUE said:

It's may not be the barrel though more than likely the end that goes into the lock as its all plastic and if it moves out of place it's pooped. 

Oh well, it's only £7.50, and if not needed, can relist it! So, if it is 'pooped; can a man that knows stuff get it working?

I had to get one of These things. Otherwise its a matter of getting from Ford with extra costs. You have to determine if its the long or short version you need though. 

I gave up on my old Mk 2, it broke twice and in the end I just got a friend to weld a T-Bar so I could open the bonnet from behind the oval, I also painted the slot day glo orange to make it easier to get the bar into the slot.

When it had to go into the garage I got more than few strange looks from the mechanic when I told them how to open the bonnet.

7 minutes ago, Ennvoqation said:

I gave up on my old Mk 2, it broke twice and in the end I just got a friend to weld a T-Bar so I could open the bonnet from behind the oval, I also painted the slot day glo orange to make it easier to get the bar into the slot.

When it had to go into the garage I got more than few strange looks from the mechanic when I told them how to open the bonnet.

What a great idea! I'd love a solution like that. It's a dam stupid design in the first place, don't know what was wrong with putting a handle release inside the cabin like every other car in the world! I know it's unlikely, but if you ever took a photo of your T-Bar mod, I'd love to see it... I'm curious - did the T-Bar just substitute for the key barrel then, meaning you could throw it in the bin?

Aye, don't have my Mk II any more sadly. You could probably get by with a long screw driver. We just removed the barrel and used the screw driver/T-Bar as a key. For me I found a T-Bar would gives a bit more leverage. Takes a bit of practice, but once you have the barrel off you should be able to see the slot I'm referring to. It actually worked fairly well for several years before I scrapped the car.

I could see if my friend still has the bar, long shot but I'll ask as I need to get my old alloys off him. 

 

1 hour ago, StephenFord said:

Thanks Ian, on your advice, have just ordered this on Ebay... 

Will try and get a proper man to do repair sometime next week, fingers crossed!

Hi the part you probably need when u get it open is a plastic insert available from ebay approx 3 quid it's longer than original part and does not break. Easy fix👍

1 minute ago, Daren said:

Hi the part you probably need when u get it open is a plastic insert available from ebay approx 3 quid it's longer than original part and does not break. Easy fix👍

Hi, just did a search on Ebay for, " plastic insert ..." Couldn't find a thing LOL

5 minutes ago, StephenFord said:

Hi, just did a search on Ebay for, " plastic insert ..." Couldn't find a thing LOL

Assuming it's this
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Bonnet-Lock-Catch-Cable-Clip-UPGRADE-Repair-PART-for-FORD-Focus-C-Max-2004-2011/283777867648?hash=item42127a9f80:g:z48AAOSwgQ9VoOBQ
 

I had it listed in my eBay for years, luckily I got rid of my MK2.5 last August without having this issue.

I got one of the inserts it worked a few time and broke also hence me getting the whole thing. One pro is I can open the bonnet with the engine running. This is what Darren means. 

Right! Just bought one of those new 'plastic' inserts as well. Hopefully, 'my guy' will be able to make use of all these new bits I seem to be buying LOL

1 hour ago, StephenFord said:

Hi, just did a search on Ebay for, " plastic insert ..." Couldn't find a thing LOL

1 hour ago, StephenFord said:

Hi, just did a search on Ebay for, " plastic insert ..." Couldn't find a thing LOL

Hi hope this helps👍

My Mk2 had the same issue. The garage removed the whole assembly and like @Ennvoqation I made do with a long flat-head screwdriver.  It was a bit clunky but it worked well enough!

Totally against my practice of many years, I have the car booked in for Monday morning at a Ford main dealer to get this sorted. (My wallet is already screaming in pain, but I just can't afford a breakdown now without the ability to even open the bonnet). I know potentially the fault is a DIY fix with maybe the appropriate parts, but I just don't feel I can experiment right now...

Thought I'd give a quick update...

Drove to the main TrustFord dealer in Lisburn this morning after making an appointment (they are only taking repairs for 'key' workers currently), and spoke to their manager, Ian. On explaining the fault, he advised me that the cost would be around £350! 🤣 His explanation was they would have to 'break' the front grill, then replace all the internal mechanisms, and no, they wouldn't be able to transfer the original locking tumbler over, meaning I would have 2 x keys for my car. Labour would be a minimum of 2 x hours, plus all parts.

Now, if this was some backstreet garage, I could maybe understand their methodology, but for a main dealer to hide under the cloak of having highly skilled specialist mechanics, with intimate knowledge of the brand, this is nothing short of outrageous. 

It's not just the cost, but for them not to know how to drill out the 3 x mounting pins of the existing working key tumbler and transfer to a new Bowden cable, and then having to smash the grill rather than simply breaking the 2 lower outer mounting screws and pulling the original grill out, simply no excuse. (And what on earth is a competent mechanic who has done this only last week according to the manager, doing for over 2 x hours?)

I have now ordered various parts online, and on receipt will take them to 'my guy' who says he can sort it in an hour!

Hey, can we start a, "Cowboy of the Month" award? If so, can I nominate TrustFord, Lisburn for the honour...

That's a prime candidate for ripping people off, it's not that hard to do and to wreck half the car in the process?  Sad thing is there'll be gullible people who'd pay it 😞 

Greedy as hell they should be call bust ford with the slogan (emptying your everyday wallets) I would never darken their door step again lol

Final Update...

Bought a new cable (Including new tumbler lock which I built using YouTube tutorial) for £21, then took it to my guy this morning, who drove it up on ramp, removed front under car guard, accessed the latch, opened bonnet, then replaced cable I supplied. Didn't even touch the grill. It took him 15 minutes from driving car in to taking it back out again. He charged me £30! Total cost to repair, £51.

Once again, I have to reiterate TrustFord, bunch of theivin' profiteering b*astards!!