2000 CLK 430 Hood Won't Open (SOLVED)

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Jun 20, 2017 | 07:29 PM
  #1  
2000 CLK 430 Hood Won't Open (W208)
Last week while I was working on my radiator, I closed the hood before I was actually ready. When I went to pull on the hood release latch, it refused to do anything. I noticed that the passenger side was not locked by the driver side was indeed locked. This quickly turned into a stressful situation.

Ultimately I lifted the car up and removed the engine guard. I could then see the driver side latch. With a 3 foot flat head screwdriver I was able to pry the latch and open the hood.

Whew!

This just a note for other users that might face the same thing. All of recommendations that I saw posted earlier failed.
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Jun 21, 2017 | 02:47 AM
  #2  
So it then all worked normally after you got it open? Why didn't it want to work? Was there too much stress on the one side or what?
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Jun 21, 2017 | 04:13 PM
  #3  
I had not reattached the latching mechanism correctly on the drivers side. Everything works great now without issue. I may purchase a new cable as the outside of the old one flaked off.
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Aug 19, 2025 | 01:53 PM
  #4  
The very same thing is happening to me, replace radiator then drivers side latch lock and cable not work. I look under without lifting the car and did not see the latch but I will try that
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