Hood Release Stuck! Alternative fix! (not long screwdriver method)

**cjonesgo** · 06-28-2007 11:58 PM

----------------Alternative method of releasing hood (I know ths works for b6, maybe others?)-------------

This is intended to help those with a failed/broken/disengaged hood latch release mechanism. The hood is stuck in the fully closed position, and the hood release lever is not functioning.

NOTE: This method is slow, you will probably break a few tabs on your grill, and it is a general pain in the ass. However, it does work, and if the long screwdriver method fails you, this is an alternative that does not involve cutting holes in your hood or removing the bumper...
Sorry, but I have no pictures, as I was without camera or computer when I had to improvise this solution (didn't know about the long screwdriver method) hope that this can help someone out.

1. Remove the main (upper) grill (you will probably break a few tabs) prying with a screwdriver or two. I taped them to prevent scratching the paint.

2. Once the grill is removed, you can see the top of the latch mechanism. Ignore the two bolts on the actual latch release mechanism (13mm/torx interior with blue paint) instead locate the THREE 10mm acorn nuts on the 'hood latch' (the thing attached to the hood that plugs into mechanism.

3. It's a tight fit, but you can get in there with a 10mm wrench and get those acorn nuts off. Once you have done this, the hood will raise up seperate from the latch mechanism. Again, this is a VERY snug job! It will work, but you will need patience.

4. Release Hood latch from mechanism, and reattach to hood.

5. Fix latch mechanism. In my case, the cable had simply slipped out of the catch on the release mechanism while I was doing my timing/h2o pump...

6. Give it a few test runs while you still have the grill out. Saves breaking more tabs.

7. Drink a beer and feel good about fixing something that you probably (inadvertently) broke in the first place.

**A4 Moda** · 06-29-2007 02:55 AM

Happened to me before. All you have to do is make sure you pulled the hood latch already from inside the car. The hood won't budge

Go up to the hood and give it a little tug upward then the little tab in the front will pop out and continue as usual, Pull it out and open the hood.

The above method might be for is the cable breaks?
I have no clue why because my method has worked countless times.

Good post nonetheless

**HeymyAudi** · 06-29-2007 09:21 AM

Damn I could of used this the other day I freaking hade to remove the lower belly pan and then remove the bumper then do the long screw driver

**A4TUNE** · 06-29-2007 11:53 AM

wow that method is crazy. Sometimes the latch in the grille doesn't pop up after I pull the lever inside the hood, all I did was bend a metal nail file into a "L" shape and pull up on the lever. pulls right up and I can get on with my work, I keep the file in my glove box just in case.

**dirtybrd** · 06-29-2007 05:10 PM

Originally Posted by A4 Moda

Happened to me before. All you have to do is make sure you pulled the hood latch already from inside the car. The hood won't budge

Go up to the hood and give it a little tug upward then the little tab in the front will pop out and continue as usual, Pull it out and open the hood.

The above method might be for is the cable breaks?
I have no clue why because my method has worked countless times.

Good post nonetheless

Lube your latch.

**wolfdog** · 09-21-2008 11:36 AM

Thanks for the write up. I had this page up on the laptop today and thought I might need it. I removed my driver's side headlight last week to clean something up and when i went to open the hood a bit later - nada. The hood was completely down and the lever in the dash did nothing. I finally got around to fixing it this morning.

I jacked up the car and got under it to give it a go before using this method. Once the belly pan was off, I got under it and tried squeezing my left arm up on the driver's side where I could see the cable. It wouldn't fit. I then figured I'd try my right arm up around the passenger side of the belt in engine bay. Score.

Luckily, what happened was the ball end of the hood latch cable slipped out of its nesting place. I felt around a couple minutes and easily determined where it went. Problem solved in under 5 minutes.

Here's a picture to help anyone else who needs a visual to help them out down the line. This is from the engine bay looking out. The area circled in red is the end of the hood release cable (you can see the cable heading into it on the left side of the circle). The elongated plastic bit covers the the ball end of the cable but it snaps into place and the cable fits into an area under it. Actually, the space where the end of the cable fits felt like the empty area about 1" below and to the right of the red circle (left of the large bolt) just flipped 180 degrees.

**absolutegtr** · 09-21-2008 11:42 AM

dirtynrd, where do you need to put the grease?

When i need to open my hood, I have to pull on that lever (the one underneath the dash) as hard as I can just to get it to pop up...after that I have no problem

**wolfdog** · 09-21-2008 11:48 AM

Your cable is likely pinched somewhere. The metal cable has a plastic housing that it slides inside of when the lever is pulled. If that's pinched it will be tough to unlock. I would trace it out under your hood to make sure it's free. As for lubing the latch, just look for moving parts. My lazy self would probably just spray some WD-40 into it.

**DougQuaid0** · 01-30-2009 01:14 AM

Hi,

It seems I have the same problem. I have searched the forum and couldn't find anything so forgive me if this has already been discussed.

What is the "long screwdriver method" mentioned in the orignal post?

Which method would you recommend?

Cheers
D

**dirtybrd** · 01-30-2009 04:43 PM

I had it happen on a car I did a t-belt on and I just removed the belly pan, reached up and released it.

**DougQuaid0** · 01-31-2009 11:33 AM

Right, I've got the belly pan off and can see the hood locking mechanism.

The trouble is I don't know what I need to do to release the hood.

There are two metal tabs. One has a spring attached.
Below this is a small metal lever, this appears to be attached to the 'pull out ' that pops out through the grille.
I have pushed this. This handle pops out of the grille but thats about it.

The hood release cable is still attached and if its pulled the metal tab with a spring moves about 1/2 inch.

Please could someone tell me what I need to push, pull etc to open the hood.

Cheers for all your help.

**wolfdog** · 02-01-2009 12:23 PM

I couldn't get my hood open a few months back and figured it out. I took a picture of the latch to help anyone else out. The part circled in red is where the cable is supposed to seat in the locking latch mechanism (it is attached in the picture). When you pull the hood release from inside the car, it makes this wire pull towards the left in this picture to open the hood. Hopefully, this helps you out. If the wire is still seated properly, just try to give it a pull toward the driver's side from underneath.

**Ericfutbol** · 09-06-2010 04:57 PM

I used this method!! Thank you for the insight, I did learn a lot of patience, but a few hours and some banged up knuckles later it was all good.....

**Valve_Cover** · 09-06-2010 07:16 PM

are you guys kidding??

1-jack car (1 minute)
2-remove belly pan (2 minutes)
3- use 2 foot pry bar to push on inside latch ( 5 seconds)
4-?????
5-laugh at whoever is breaking his front grill and wasting a bunch of time opening his hood (haha) kidding

Srsly I popped my buddies hood the other day on his b6 just to make his alarm system go off for shits and giggles, he was a few dozen feet away and came up to his car with the hood open and the alarm screaming but the doors still locked...took me all of 4 minutes in the dark with a flashlight lolll