2011 Audi S4 hood release lever stuck

[NAR Mike]

Hey guys, so I just got my S4 the other day and when I went to pop the hood to install my new dipstick, the interior hood lever would not move. I tried to pull it hard, but it seems to have way to much tension to it and only moves slightly. The hood does not open. I did my research, but I couldn't find anything about a stuck release lever. Seems like when the cable breaks for most people, the hood release lever has no tension. Can someone please advise on what to do?

Thank you

[xpoweruk]

http://www.audi-sport.net/xf/threads...-cable.309076/

[MrFunk]

You're not trying to pull on it with the drivers door closed are you? The door needs to be open.

[AudBoost]

You're not trying to pull on it with the drivers door closed are you? The door needs to be open.

^I'll admit I did not know this when I first got the car.

[NAR Mike]

You're not trying to pull on it with the drivers door closed are you? The door needs to be open.

no sir, the driver door is open while Im pulling on it.

[cspcrx]

You're not trying to pull on it with the drivers door closed are you? The door needs to be open.

Hmm I was not aware of this either. Never tried but interesting.

[NAR Mike]

So I'm still not sure, is my cable broken? if so, why does it have a lot of tension?

[AudBoost]

So I'm still not sure, is my cable broken? if so, why does it have a lot of tension?

How much does the handle move?

[NAR Mike]

How much does the handle move?

not much at all, like quarter inch if that...

[AudBoost]

When the door is closed and you pull the hood lever that's how it feels. If you open your door does it show the door as being open on the LCD in the cluster?
It could be whatever mechanism locks the lever when the door is shut is malfunctioning. What that is I have no idea. Maybe someone else can chime in.

[kelseysautobody]

Push down and pull up a few times on the hood itself. Tap it with your palms to see if you can loosen anything up and then try pulling the lever again. Just be careful not to dent the hood. If that doesn't free it have someone push down on the hood and pull the lever at the same time.

[kelseysautobody]

When the door is closed and you pull the hood lever that's how it feels. If you open your door does it show the door as being open on the LCD in the cluster?
It could be whatever mechanism locks the lever when the door is shut is malfunctioning. What that is I have no idea. Maybe someone else can chime in.

I don't think there is a mechanism that does that, the door panel is just in the way.

[sunsation]

Same thing happened to my old b8 a4 took it to the dealership and they had to replace the mechanism... same symptoms of pulling but the handle not moving... was able to get it open by using a screw driver and prying it open but had the dealer replace the mechanism!


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[MrFunk]

Same thing happened to my old b8 a4 took it to the dealership and they had to replace the mechanism... same symptoms of pulling but the handle not moving... was able to get it open by using a screw driver and prying it open but had the dealer replace the mechanism!


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I had this with my 04 A4. Ended up having to take it in to the dealership to have them fix it. The mechanism just seized up.

[NAR Mike]

Push down and pull up a few times on the hood itself. Tap it with your palms to see if you can loosen anything up and then try pulling the lever again. Just be careful not to dent the hood. If that doesn't free it have someone push down on the hood and pull the lever at the same time.

I did that with the help of a friend and the release lever unlocked, but the hood is still shut, and the lever has no tension. Sounds like the cable broke, how do I open the hood now from under the car?

[NAR Mike]

Does anyone know if it is easier to go through the wheel well then from the bottom of the car? I have no idea what I'm looking at from under the car.

[xpoweruk]

See my previous post

[NAR Mike]

See my previous post

I seen it, but I have no idea what I'm looking at. I guess I just have to remove the wheel well and see if I recognize anything.

Does the breakage happen to everyone in the same place? I mean is there a known weak point?

[xpoweruk]

The plastic linkage seems to be the weak spot

[AFONE]

Instead of pulling up on it, press down on the hood and then try lifting.


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[NAR Mike]

Update: Got the hood opened, it was really easy. If anyone needs help, I can tell you what I did.

One question I had though, which part do I replace to fix the issue? Is it the latch or the mechanism? Can someone provide part numbers?

Thank you


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[jygesq]

Tell us how, please.

[NAR Mike]

Tell us how, please.

Here are the steps I took with pics.

- Remove driver side wheel
- Remove fender splash shield/liner
- Next to the headlight housing you wheel see a skinny plastic box, when you locate it, follow these steps.

**You will be working from under the fender, but all steps are exactly same**

STEP 1: Wiggle the skinny plastic box off the radiator support. (bracket has tight clips, but not will slide off)


STEP 2: Separate the metal clip from the black plastic box (You need to do this to be able to open the box, shown later)


STEP 3: Pull the cable slightly to the left and at the same time fling open the cover. (This step somehow took me 2 seconds, maybe I got lucky)


STEP 4: Remove the cover from the other end and see mechanism exposed


STEP 5: Dissemble the connection like so.. (I still had the cover on, but it should be removed)


STEP 6: Grab the black box **not the wire** and pull along the radiator support. Don't try to yank it open from first try, if it doesn't pop the hood release it and try it again. Play with it.


Hope this helps someone.

I'm still trying to figure out what is broken in the system to replace it.

[points]

I had something like that happen to me. I don't think there is actually anything wrong with the mechanism itself per se, I think the problem is the stupid plastic box they use to make the connection. Mine felt stuck like that at first, then it lost all tension on the inside handle. What I'm sure happened in the first place is that the connection gets jammed inside the plastic box and can't move, I think I managed to pull hard enough to dislodge them and they separated. I went in through the wheel well like the previous poster did and was able to open the hood pretty easily by pulling on the interior half of the cable. If you look just to the right of the back of the headlight through the wheel well, you can see the cables and box right up at the top of the core support. To fix it, I reassembled the two halves with the little metal connector and then greased it all up and used a few heavy cable ties to keep the box closed. So far so good.

[Srivilayz]

Hate to bring this back up, my hood is closed and the lever isn't working due to a loose cable. How else can I open my hood? Thanks again

[S4'ed]

Read post #23......

[benj22_2]

Here are the steps I took with pics.

- Remove driver side wheel
- Remove fender splash shield/liner
- Next to the headlight housing you wheel see a skinny plastic box, when you locate it, follow these steps.

**You will be working from under the fender, but all steps are exactly same**

STEP 1: Wiggle the skinny plastic box off the radiator support. (bracket has tight clips, but not will slide off)


STEP 2: Separate the metal clip from the black plastic box (You need to do this to be able to open the box, shown later)


STEP 3: Pull the cable slightly to the left and at the same time fling open the cover. (This step somehow took me 2 seconds, maybe I got lucky)


STEP 4: Remove the cover from the other end and see mechanism exposed


STEP 5: Dissemble the connection like so.. (I still had the cover on, but it should be removed)


STEP 6: Grab the black box **not the wire** and pull along the radiator support. Don't try to yank it open from first try, if it doesn't pop the hood release it and try it again. Play with it.


Hope this helps someone.

I'm still trying to figure out what is broken in the system to replace it.

Is there any way to get these images? the links are broken...

I'm facing this problem where the hood can't open and before i sawzall the latch i'd really like to try this, doubtful it will work though it seams the whole mecanism is just stuck

[Smac770]

Not sure what your actual issue is. But a UK member recently had the issue where the interior release handle cable had separated from the hood latch cable. So he removed the lock carrier lower cover (the small cover between the engine splash shield and the bumper cover) and reached up and just pulled the cable by hand.

So what you can try will depend on what's what with your cables.

[LYKUNO]

Not sure what your actual issue is. But a UK member recently had the issue where the interior release handle cable had separated from the hood latch cable. So he removed the lock carrier lower cover (the small cover between the engine splash shield and the bumper cover) and reached up and just pulled the cable by hand.

So what you can try will depend on what's what with your cables.

That certainly sounds like a much more rational procedure than taking a sawmill to the car! But if you have no reservations about taking a sawmill to your car, here's the video:



If I ever encounter a hood release failure, I'm going with Smac's recommendation!