Hey guys, I recently bought an 86 190e 2.3 from an original owner who also owned a Mercedes Benz dealership. All of the sudden the hood release won't work. I tried to pull on the cable with vise grips and nothing. the cable didn't come out so i don't know if/where it's broken. Any tips on how to open the hood? Iv'e also read that breaking the grill might also be necessary but i'd like to avoid that if possible. Thanks!

 

Fortunately I've never had the problem but I've read enough about it that I know it's real.

If the release in the car doesn't move at all, that would mean there is something at the hood release that is holding it. If it does move, it's the cable breaking. In either case your only solution is to try to release it with a long screwdriver through the gray part of the grill. It could be you would have to break that to accomplish what you need to do. Those grills are available and not very expensive, about $31. I bought a new one to paint black and it's an easy job to remove and replace. I've heard of some folks being able to get it open without breaking anything but in my study of the problem, 'just in case', I can't see how they did it without damage to the louvers in the grill. There's no easy fix!

Good luck!

 

Well, I had to cut six squares out of the grill. Then i pulled off the plastic anti theft cover. I found that the plastic clip that attaches the cable to the hood latch broke. Thanks !