What is this cable?

[markr]

I have just removed the offside headlamp to change the parking light bulb. I thought I'd have a nosey around while the light was off and came across a thin steel cable, the same type you see on pedal cycle brake cables without the plastic sheath. This cable seemed to come from the front of the car I would suggest from the bonnet release area then went under the headlamp housing and stopped there. I felt around under the headlamp and found the other end, it was looped and not connected to anything. It's as if this was installed for a mechanical bonnet release rather than the electronic and never used. Anyone any ideas?

 

[markr]

I can't work out how you'd get to the cable without opening the bonnet. The end under the headlamp is just loose and not connected to anything. I've looked through the handbook and the only thing I can find regarding emergency release of the bonnet is by using a donor battery. Should this cable be connected to a lever somewhere?

 

[uk_sub]

No...it's the emergency release cable for the bonnet as stated previously.
You access it via the wheel arch liner (i.e. remove a few fixings so you can get in behind the liner and then fish around for the loop you described).

There's a similar cable for the rear lid too...

 

[Mark_Bennett]

Exactly.

And it's deliberately inaccessible. If it was easy to access then every thief in the world would be able to use it...

 

[markr]

Thanks for the replies, that's that little mystery cleared up.