Hood won't open

[M3powerzz]

When I pull the lever for the hood it feels loose, no tension, so I figured something broke, I could hear a noise by the junction box where the cables connect in the engine bay. How do I get the hood open?

[karter16]

When I pull the lever for the hood it feels loose, no tension, so I figured something broke, I could hear a noise by the junction box where the cables connect in the engine bay. How do I get the hood open?

It's not a guaranteed solution, but I had an issue once where it didn't catch quite right and had the same issue as you. If you keep trying and kind of push the lever to one side or the other as you lift it it might catch and open.


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[Cubieman]

The first thing I would do is remove the handle in the vehicle and attach a vicegrip on the cable and see if it opens.
Sometimes the cable is just stretched a bit and the travel of the handle is no longer enough to open it. If that doesn't work you have to go a bit further.

Generally it involves taking off or getting around underside trim panels such as wheel well covers then using a long hook type tool you pull on the cable where you can.

Just eyeballing the routing of the cables it looks like this could be a frustrating one.

[M3powerzz]

I will try that thanks, I actually had some pull the lever when I was trying to open the hood, press down and lift up, still nothing, I guess I need a way to get to the cable and pull it.

[sapote]

In the worst case, you need to remove/break the kidney grill then reach in to slide the latch levers to the right, front view.

[M3powerzz]

I removed the kidney grille, I gotta look for the latch levers, I will try tomorrow and let you guys know, how it goes

[01SG]

There is no trick on the e46 like there was on the e36, is there? You could yank the driver's side turn signal to reach right in and grab the cable.


Thankfully, replacing the cable should be easy. Just tie the new one to the end of the old one in the car and pull the old one out through the hood.

[M3powerzz]

Well I got the hood open, the cable was stretch, had to take apart the handle and pull it by hand and it opened.

[M3powerzz]

Thanks cubieman