Talk Morgan Forums Morgan Sports Cars Maintenance & Servicing Easy Up hood release

Disaster after 11,000 miles and 21 months. The hood release lever on my Nov 2011 +4 has broken. Removed the single screw attachment and it's snapped inside where the cable attaches to the lever. Still under warranty so talking to dealer tomorrow.
Always thought it was a rather flimsy device. Moulded plastic doesn't really seem appropriate. Anyone, perhaps even the factory, thought of replacing it with a metal item? I'm aware I'm not the first person to have this problem. Equally aware of the need for proper adjustment - which I leave to the dealer.
Just glad it didn't happen at MOG 13 or afterwards in France. Would have been a pity to miss 1000 miles of top down motoring.

You could release the hood catches by reaching up inside the spare wheel well and pulling the cable, I would think.

If anyone knows of a better replacement, let us know! It looks like it comes from a 1985 ford fiesta...!!!

Crickey, that worries me! Just returned from France but pretty rubbish weather, so had to use hood release frequently on my 2012 plus4. Like the tip re hand through the spare aperture to release.

The whole thing is a bit of a "bitsa", the catches are some sort of bonnet catch and the lever seems to be a car door opener of dubious origin.

Seems important to keep the cable lubricated and the catches greased. Also important to press down on the left hand catch whilst opening to release the load...

I'd like a nice metal one as the bit that takes the cable is bound to fatigue with time!

Thanks for your comments.

Aldermog: is the left hand the UK nearside or offside and is it a one person exercise ?

I'd been think about replacing the 'Fiesta' plastic handle with a cord landyard. Less elegant than the handle but would avoid the teeth clenching, will it wont it, moment when you try to release the catch.

I had a Simmonds hood on my previous Morgan. Prefer the factory easy-up hood in every way apart from the plastic handle release.

I believe the catches are as fitted to MGBs etc as bonnet catches. They are adjustable to a small degree. The cable is adjustable (up behind the spare - not easy) to decrease the amount of travel at the handle. Mine seems quite easy to release with the grey handle, but does require a firmish slam to reseat the rear of the hood. I always release the rear when putting up the hood as this make it much easier to locate and lock the front rail on the windscreen, after getting the front and sides correct I slam the rear shut again with as little force as possible! The other reason for opening the rear is to access the rear luggage area behind the seats while the hood is up, very useful "hatchback".

When the hood is down I always leave the rear unlatched. Doesn't cause any problems.

Correct on the MGB bonnet catches - I just replaced one after evidently overdoing the 'slam', but adjusting both catches in sync with the tension needed on the hood is a tricky process at best.......and yes, reading of the demise of the plastic lever makes me think I could be revisiting this all again soon, so an 'upgrade' would be most welcome.

"Si fractum non sit, noli id reficere" - but not in this case

Later MGB's had a T handle bonnet release cable, and I suspect that this could be a simple replacement, but would need a bracket fabricating to replace the current handle.

Alb, Paul at Williams said press down on the hood frame above the catch nearest the lever to release load on the lever and cable. On a UK car that is on the drivers, off side. So yes, a one person job.

Still think a metal lever would be a good solution, but not from a car door catch: these levers are not designed to pull against a load. A bonnet lever would be better....