The battery on my 2003 Vogue went totally dead overnight, so the central locking wouldn’t unlock. I also discovered that I couldn’t unlock the driver’s door with the key (it being the only door with a key-operated lock). So, how to release the bonnet on a ‘sealed’ RR to gain access to the battery in order to charge or replace it, without doing damage running into hundreds?

Whilst the FFRR forum was a very useful source of information, I was unable to gain access to the starter motor cable from under the vehicle without jacking it up. For one thing, the only suitable jack was securely locked in the vehicle, and in any case I wasn’t comfortable working under a jacked-up 2 ton RR.

After much deliberation, I managed to release the bonnet by gaining access to the bonnet release cable by:

1. removing the off-side inner wing skin;
2. locating the bonnet release cable;
3. cutting the cable;
4. paring back the outer sheath and pulling the inner cable with an adjustable wrench.

Once the bonnet was opened, I could energise the electrical system using a second battery and jump leads, then open the RR using the central locking. After fixing the driver's door lock, I replaced the half of the bonnet release cable I’d cut which cost a modest £18.

For any other members who might find themselves in the same situation, I’ve produced an illustrated record below, using photos I took during the process, which I hope might be of use.

This is my first contribution, so I apologise in advance if I’ve broken any protocols.

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Here’s an illustrated record of how I gained access to the bonnet release cable from outside the vehicle, so as to open the bonnet on a super-locked 2003 RR Vogue with a flat battery and a non-functioning driver’s door lock. I was able to do this without jacking up the vehicle, and with the road wheels still on. That said, a little under-vehicle work was required, so the usual safety precautions were necessary, including chocking wheels. There were 12 main steps.


1. Removed the front off-side (right hand) mud flap (see Photo 1).

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Looks brutal mate, IIRC you can get juice into the car via the wing indicator wiring.

Useful to know for when the bonnet release cable breaks (hopefully the one between the join and the handle)

Following on from Mr Tee, if you have a towbar, socket and wiring, you can power up through there as well .
Experience is the only genuine knowledge, but as time passes, I have forgotten more than I can remember
Volvo V70 P2 2006 2.4 Petrol 170bhp Estate SE
MG Midget Mk1 1962

Previous: L322 Range Rover TDV8 3.6 2008; L322 Range Rover TD6 3.0 2002; P38A Range Rover V8 1999

I took the battery out of my Td6 without checking my door lock first - so as i closed the bonnet i was locked out.

I tried giving the indicator power but it didn't work - i ended up getting a jump lead to the starter motor positive and earthing to any bolt that would allow. Not too difficult with a reasonable jack!

Mr Tee wrote:

Looks brutal mate, IIRC you can get juice into the car via the wing indicator wiring.

Joe90 wrote:

Useful to know for when the bonnet release cable breaks (hopefully the one between the join and the handle)

Following on from Mr Tee, if you have a towbar, socket and wiring, you can power up through there as well

Thanks for your reply Joe. This is the start of my learning journey with Range Rovers, and this forum is invaluable. As I mentioned in my reply to Mr Tee, I wasn't aware that there was another way of energising the electrical system other than via the starter motor cable. I saw a post about energising via the tow bar electrics but, alas, mine doesn't have a tow bar, which sadly put the kybosh on that approach!

Richycsurfer wrote:

I took the battery out of my Td6 without checking my door lock first - so as i closed the bonnet i was locked out.

I tried giving the indicator power but it didn't work - i ended up getting a jump lead to the starter motor positive and earthing to any bolt that would allow. Not too difficult with a reasonable jack!

Many thanks Richy. I managed to slide under the RR and could just about see a little of the starter motor cable (mine's a V8 petrol so may be a different layout to the Td6), but without jacking the vehicle up there was absolutely no room to manoevre underneath. With the RR jack securely locked in the vehicle, and being somewhat reluctant to work under a jacked up vehicle, I took an alternative approach. However, I've leaned from Mr Tee and Joe90 that there are other methods as well (especially if the RR had tow bar electrics) so I'm better prepared for next time, although I hope there isn't one

Joe90 wrote:

Useful to know for when the bonnet release cable breaks (hopefully the one between the join and the handle)

Following on from Mr Tee, if you have a towbar, socket and wiring, you can power up through there as well