Don't worry if you can't open the hood of the Mini Cooper. The bar under the hood, aka the safety bar, is what makes the cover difficult to open. Once you know how to push the safety bar off, you'll have no trouble opening the Mini Cooper's hood.
Step
Method 1 of 3: Finding the Safety Barrier Lever
Step 1. Look for the latch lever on the front passenger seat if your car was made before 2009
Go to the passenger seat. Look for the glove box near the door frame. Find the black bonnet opener. On the tool there is a picture of a car with an open hood.
Step 2. Look for the latch lever in the driver's seat if your car was manufactured in 2009 or later
The lever is near the car's footpad and pedals. Look at the bottom of the dashboard, near the door frames. It was a black lever with an image of a car with the hood open.
Step 3. Pull the lever towards you to open the hood
Use your fingers to pull the lever toward you. Pull the lever until you hear a pop and the pressure is released. The hood of your Mini Cooper should pop open right away.
- If the hood is still closing, you may need to pull the lever harder.
- If the hood still won't open after a few times, the retaining cable may be damaged. Ask a mechanic with experience repairing the Mini Cooper to fix it.
Method 2 of 3: Lifting the Hood
Step 1. Walk to the front of the car
The hood will open. However, the retaining bar will keep it completely open. Stand in front of the hood with your body facing the car.
Step 2. Feel the lever on the right side of the hood
Place your finger under the hood, just to the right of the Mini Cooper symbol. Use your fingers to touch the brush and press it down.
There was a metal loop attached to the hood, close to the lever, but it wasn't the lever. The lever is to the left of the metal circle. This object serves to hold the hood when closed
Step 3. Push the lever up
Once you find the lever on the hood, use your fingers to press it down. Once pressed, the hood will open. If the hood does not open after the lever is pressed, the lever may be caught or damaged.
Find a mechanic who can fix the lever on the hood of your Mini Cooper
Method 3 of 3: Fixing the Cap Safety Lever
Step 1. Pull the lever to release the hood
If your Mini Cooper was manufactured before 2009, the lever is located under the front dashboard of the passenger seat. If your Mini Cooper was manufactured in 2009 or later, the lever is located under the driver's front dashboard. Pull the lever toward you to open the hood.
Step 2. Check the cables to make sure they are not loose
As you pull the lever, use a flashlight to observe the wires behind it. Use your fingers or a hook to pull the cable. If it is easy to pull, the cable is loose. If the cable is too tight, there may be another problem with the cable under the hood.
The bottom cable opens the right side of the hood, while the top cable opens the left side of your car's hood
Step 3. Open the hood manually
Pull each cable with your finger or a hook tool to open the hood manually. Pull each cable until you hear a flicking sound indicating the hood is open. If the hood doesn't open after you pull the cord, you'll need to take the Mini Cooper to a mechanic to have it repaired.
Step 4. Hire the services of a mechanic who has experience repairing Mini Cooper cars
A mechanic can certainly open the hood to check the wires that are there. To fix this problem, the mechanic may just need to clean and lubricate the cables. If one or more cables are damaged, the mechanic needs to replace them.
