Please HELP "Hood release cable off!

[WEB]

I'm a new owner of a '89 190E purchased with the water pump "out". I want to thank sixto for his thread, "Replacing the Water Pump", without reading this before starting I still be working on removal. Now I have even a bigger problem after assembling all parts I closed the Hood to take a test drive. On my return home I pulled the inside hood release and No tension on the lever. Now I cannot open the hood! Please someone tell me how I can open the hood latch without using a can opener to cut the hood apart!

Newbie WEB

[brewtoo]

Look at the hood release handle and see if the cable has slipped out.

[Kpmurphy]

On my 220D the same thing happened a while back. I used a cote hanger with a hook on end of it and ran it through the grill and hooked the release and popped it open.
Its probably not that simple on your car.

[TX76513]

Bet a donut it's the poorly made hood release handle


Take hood release lever off, grab cable with vice grips and release hood, then call Phil @ Fastlane and get another one ordered.

[ajme]

I did the same thing: closed the hood with the cable disconnected at the hood. I could not visualize the latch. Eventually I broke up the plastic grille, then I could see what I was trying to catch with my long piece of coathanger. The new grille is nice and dark. It looks way better.

Andrew

[Matt L]

A lesson for all of us: before closing the hood after repairs that may affect the latch, engage the latches by pressing with a tool (screwdriver or similar) and ensure that the interior lever releases them.