hood won't open
 

I removed the latch on the hood. I put it back like I thought it was originally. I worked the cable inside and it seemed to work ok. I lowered the hood to the safety latch & it fit and lined up ok. Well, I went and lowered the hood to the latch. I then tried to open from the release inside of the car and it won't open. Has anyone encountered this before, and maybe how to get it open again?

Thanks

You'll have a better shot at help if you provide year, make, model, etc., of the vehicle in question.

working on a 1991 190e with 6 cyl. motor

I did the same thing. I fished for a while with a bent coat hanger, then broke into the plastic grille to get a better view. The coat hanger has to be long, and bent into a tight (1/4 inch) hook. If you don't ruin the chrome strips, they can be used again on your new plastic grille (which was not all that expensive: about $25 as I recall).

Andrew

not sure, but you could probably pull the interior end of the cable a little bit more by removing the cable end from the latch and pulling on it with vice grips... taking care not to crush the end of course...

if that doesn't work... have someone tug on the hood while you're pulling on the latch

That was a first for anything like that to happen to me. From an old post some years ago...always set the latch and try unlocking it before closing the hood. Very good advise!

The cable broke off on my W124 and after ages fiddling with a coat hannger to no avail, I eventually took a very long screwdriver and popped off a plastic covering under the latch mechanism, accessing it through the grill. I could then trigger the latch with the screwdriver.

I think the 190E should be similar.

Good Luck,
Jase

I guess, Mercedes forgot to invent an emergency opening of the hood like the gas door!

Man, I feel for you. I cross my fingers every time I pop the hood on the 126in cold weather; it gets kinda sticky at low temps, even though I lube it religiously. That baby has two latches, and it's gonna be a bear when it finally breaks a cable.
I think I may go out and take some photos, or better yet devise some kind of attached cable thingy that can be accessed when the inevitable happens.

DG

Thanks, for the all the help on the hood. Never was in that situation before. I got it open after a search. It was several years ago by some lady on the site. She mentioned about using vise grips etc. to do it. It saved me, and there was no damage to deal with. The cable can get off under the cross member putting it back on very easily, and that's what happened to me. It's not the first time this forum has got me out of the barrel...really have appreciated the help!