I just finished up the pictorial on the hood strap install.

http://dieselgiant.com/mercedes_hood_strap_install.htm

Enjoy.

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1981 300D 147k
1998 VW Jetta Tdi 320k
2001 Dodge Ram 2500 141k
1979 300D 234k (sold)
1984 300D "Astor" 262k(sold)
Mercedes How-To and Repair Pictorials
I love the smell of diesel smoke in my hair

Nice! I've had this happen to me twice, and never thought to use a long screwdriver- looks like it works well.
The first time, I forgot to put the strap back into the grill after I painted the grill; I used a hangar to get the hood open, PITA...
The second time, a mechanic broke the strap off in front of me...he used some needle nose pliers, although this was not too kind to the grill itself. Needless to say, I got a free strap out of that.

__________________
Dan
2005 E320 CDI - 246k
1987 300SDL TD05-16g, Herlevi pump, Elbe manifold, 2.47 LSD - 213k
Past: 1987 300D - 264k

Nice write up as always, FWIW I use a hanger to pull out the release when the tab gets broken.

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http://superturbodiesel.com/images/sig.04.10.jpg
1995 E420 Schwarz
1995 E300 Weiss
#1987 300D Sturmmachine
#1991 300D Nearly Perfect
#1994 E320 Cabriolet
#1995 E320 Touring
#1985 300D Sedan
OBK #42

Nice.

Its only 1 clip and the strap is only $7, I wouldn't even bother with a wire. I can think of few things that look as tacky as a coat wire hanging out of the grill of a Mercedes.

That happened to me during the first week I had Ol' Turbo.

I bought some VERY thin needle nose pliers to get the hood open.

*Edit* I did fix the the moment I got home.

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1985 500SL Euro w/ AMG bits 130k
1984 300SD Turbodiesel 192k
1980 240D Stick China 188k
2001 CLK55 AMG 101k
2007 S600 Biturbo 149k Overheated Project, IT'S ALIVE!!!

Is a pictorial really necessary for this lol? I would think that if you can't figure this out for yourself, you probably shouldn't be working on a car in the first place...

__________________
Current cars:
2000 ML55 AMG, 174k miles
2003 C240 T-Modell, 202k miles
1995 S320, 207k Miles

If you just bought a car without a tab.......

__________________
http://superturbodiesel.com/images/sig.04.10.jpg
1995 E420 Schwarz
1995 E300 Weiss
#1987 300D Sturmmachine
#1991 300D Nearly Perfect
#1994 E320 Cabriolet
#1995 E320 Touring
#1985 300D Sedan
OBK #42

Good point about not lifting the hood with the strap. I think i've done it every time i have opened my hood.

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'83 300D 198,000mi Howard
'03 Saturn Vue CVT 75,000mi(wifeys)

Yep, this one is pretty obvious.
I want a pictorial on what to do if the hood release cable breaks......

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Jimmy L.
'05 Acura TL 6MT
2001 ML430 My Spare

Gone:
'95 E300 188K "Batmobile" Texas Unfriendly Black
'85 300TD 235K "The Wagon" Texas Friendly White
'80 240D 154K "China" Scar engine installed
'81 300TD 240K "Smash"
'80 240D 230K "The Squash"
'81 240D 293K"Scar" Rear ended harder than Elton John

I always lift the hood by the front edges of the hood beside the grille, not on the grille itself.

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http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7271/7...144c3fc1dc.jpg

This is what i'm interested in...I think my cable is stretching, its starting to release the hood at the very end of travel on the lever. Is there a way to adjust the cable? I haven't looked at the hood end of it yet. But I think one day the hood just won't release, and then I'll probably cry.

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1985 300TD-euro 352,000 mi
1974 240D (1?)52,000 mi - has a new home now

I'm in this situation now, I have no clue in the world how to open it. I need to install my new lower radiator hose with a heater(thanks DG). and of course as I go to install it, my cable went caput.

__________________
1982 300D Turbo 203K silver
Need to fix these leaks badly

Since DG sells items necessary to open the hood to install, maybe that How To will be forthcoming.......

__________________
Jimmy L.
'05 Acura TL 6MT
2001 ML430 My Spare

Gone:
'95 E300 188K "Batmobile" Texas Unfriendly Black
'85 300TD 235K "The Wagon" Texas Friendly White
'80 240D 154K "China" Scar engine installed
'81 300TD 240K "Smash"
'80 240D 230K "The Squash"
'81 240D 293K"Scar" Rear ended harder than Elton John