Ford Transit 02 reg. Bonnet lock is seized, how can i open the bonnet?

My fix was very easy. I removed the grill and inserted the key to see what happens and it opened.
I put the grill back and same problem.
I realized the grill prevents the key from going in all the
way. Just pushed the grill against the lock mechanism turned the key and
problem solved.

Gabriel
January 2016

Keep twisting it back and forth and it should click to the left and pop up then turn it to the right it will lift.

Danny
August 2014

the latch is not seized it is just worn just wonderd if you need new key or will old key do

john mcneil
April 2013

dose any key fit the latch

john
April 2013

Okay so follow up on last post. The bonnet catch is seized and you cant open it with the key. So remove the front grill, Just pops out held in by clips. Then use your fingers to find the bolts for the housing. Remove the bolts. mine were 12mm. Once housing is off use a screw driver or similar to pry the barrel off. It sits on a star wheel and requires a bit of force to do. Once barrel is off use a screw drive to turn the star wheel in the proper directions, get it right and the bonnet opes. It may take as few goes. Once bonnet is open, replace barrel. Good Luck.

Rob
September 2011

OK I understand exactly what the origninal question is. The only way of opening these specific locks is with the key. It may be that there is excesive wear on the tibby key. If this is the case you will need the key, key number and £60 for ford to cut you a new one. If not I recommend a good salvage yard who can supply you with a new mechanism and key. I picked a full set and reprogram for £50 today. That includes ignition barrel, fuel cap, bonnet key and drivers door. And the chap also programmed the key fob for me so everything stayed on the same key. As for removal I havent figured that out for the bonnet yet. will update as work on it. Hope this helps

Rob
September 2011

my lock has been siezed for five weeks; what was ford thinking of when designing this lock without a pull arm. I drilled the lock out myself to access my engine because i contacted 15 lock smiths, over the dureation of the last five weeks and in convernsation with them, not even they wanted to know because releasing the bonnet, would take even with there experianced hands five hours to open. additionally they said it's one of the worst locks ford has desgind on a vechile; even they agreed it should have had a nother source of release to acces the bonnet.

David
January 2011

That's really helpful Graham but these don't have a cable they have a lock which you use the key in!

MrMPuk
October 2007

Just to explain a bit more - generally when this happens it's not the locking bar which siezes its the end of the sheathing on the cable which comes away from it's anchor resulting in the locking arm not being activated when pulled from the bonnet release handle when you pull manually you give the cable more travel than the handle can and it activates the bar properly - if the center wire of the cable has come off (less likely) then you would have to get a very long steel rod bent at the end to activate the ber directly - not an easy job!
best of luck!

Graham
October 2007

when mine went I lay under the front of the van and reached up to the cable pulled it and the bonnet openned had to repair the cable anchor but it worked - hope that helps

Graham
October 2007