Super-easy fix for stretched actuator cables

After cars put on a couple of decades, cables for things like the hood release, trunk release and fuel door release may get stretched out with age and are often non-adjustable...on top of being NLA and a total PITA to change, even in the unlikely event that you could find a good one from a scrapped vehicle. This can make it difficult or impossible to actuate the device in question, but don't worry, here's an easy fix.

Tools: Wire cutters

Supplies: Small zip ties

Locate an end of the cable, the ball or cylinder that terminates the cable specifically. Either end will do. Then wrap one or more zip ties tightly around the cable just before the end and trim the excess. Use as many as you need to take up the extra slack.

For example here is the fuel door release on my AE92 which has been working great again for a couple of years now:

Sometimes this works. I tried doing this about a year ago on one of the 2 release cables on the ex-g/f's MINI. The cables were stretched enough that releasing the bonnet was a PITA, but adding a cable tie wouldn't allow the latch to close properly with slamming the crap out of it.

An alternative to this that offers lots of different thickness options is to take one or more of the appropriate size "split" type lock washers, use pliers to bend them just enough to get the cable through the gap, then flatten them once installed.

What I have done a few times is pick up aluminum ends from the hardware store one the cable and chain section. Cut the lead end off with a dremel cutoff, then slide the aluminum end over and mash the end tight on the cable.