Hood wont open
01-20-2013, 05:33 PM
#1
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2001 E430, 1999 SLK230
Hood wont open
2001 E430 Had radiator issue couple of weeks ago. Started installing radiator and stopped then finished up today. As I was installing the top bolts on upper radiator support I noticed the bolts would not seat. So i loosened them up and started over and saw the drivers side was not attaching properly and whan I closed the hood the drivers side would not latch. So I resigned myself to taking it all apart again and re-install. I was on way to garage and I heard the hood close. Didnt think much about it and when I came back to the car I pulled the hood release to open the hood and it wont open. The drivers side is not closed and the drivers side is but when I try to open the thing it wont release. So, my questions are how do I get the thing open without tearing the car apart? Is there a release someplace in the car for emergencies or what do I have to do to get it open? I pulled as hard as I cpould on the release short of breaking the handle. So I stopped and came to my computer to this site. Any help will be appreciated .Because IDK
Last edited by earld; 01-20-2013 at 05:36 PM.
01-21-2013, 02:27 PM
#3
Out Of Control!!
I will try to be very polite, however when you were putzing around with the upper rad support one side of the hood release cable stop came out of the locking mechinism(the side that will not lock or still flapping in the wind.
The good news is that the other side did not come out and latched, but because the other side stop came out you can't pull far enough for it to unlatch.
The only thing you can do is remove the red handle. Then carfully look at how the cable end is seated in the handle-----now remove the cable from the handle----get a pair of pliers and gently pull backwards untill you hear or see the hood open.
Good Luck!!
The good news is that the other side did not come out and latched, but because the other side stop came out you can't pull far enough for it to unlatch.
The only thing you can do is remove the red handle. Then carfully look at how the cable end is seated in the handle-----now remove the cable from the handle----get a pair of pliers and gently pull backwards untill you hear or see the hood open.
Good Luck!!
Last edited by Plutoe; 01-21-2013 at 05:40 PM.
01-21-2013, 04:14 PM
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2001 E430, 1999 SLK230
I think putzing may be too kind. I got the cable out in about 10 ,minutes and had the hood open 10 seconds later. Radiator repositioned in 15 minutes and hood closed and operating 30 seconds later. Thanks for the help
02-15-2014, 12:39 PM
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W220 S320 W124 E200
You need two persons to overcome this problem, get someone to pull back and forth the bonnet release lever under the dashboard (near the steering wheel) while you jiggle the bonnet release tongue that normally sticks out of the radiator grille. If it doesn't stick out, you will fish for it with your fingers in the top center of your radiator grille. Thereafter, check your cable release mechanism for bad linkages. Sometimes, some oiling on the release catch may help.
