UK-POLOS.NET - THE VW Polo Forum

Ever since I bought my Polo the bonnet release mechanism has been really stiff. I’ve broken two of the handle thing so far trying to open it. At the moment, I need to resort to having someone push on the bonnet while I tug at the cable with pliers.

I have my MOT due in a few months, so I really need to get it fixed. Does this sound like a cable issue or a catch issue?

Well, the bonnet catch on my wife's August 2015 VW Polo started to get quite stiff, so I sprayed it with white grease both into the lock plate catch area and onto the U loop on the bonnet, this helped only slightly, so, I slackened off the 2 bonnet rubber/plastic adjustable stops and worked the bonnet catch with the bonnet up, and something eased up, after that I just left it as it was and never readjusted the bonnet stops and so far a some years later, so good.

the cable runs beneath the front windshield calf, sometimes it pops out from its tabs, and there it can get rusty.
cable goes under the metal headlight bracket towards the latch.

Id spray some wd into latch, and check if your hood/bonet is sitting to high on the stoppers.

Also when you close the bonet does the striker slide easliy into the latch?

I've just fixed this today, it got so stiff that the release handle bracket broke.

Took apart bonnet catch, packed area with rags and sprayed brake cleaner, A LOT of grit and grime came out, bit of agitation with old toothbrush as well.

Opens very freely now.