So I want to do some work on my car this weekend, as my fuel filters need replacing. So I go to pull my hood opener cable, and it doesn't open. It's been a little finicky as of late, so I pull it, and still, nothing.

I get some pliers/channel locks to pull it (because some people said on this website that pliers or vise grips and a LOT of pulling will open a stuck hood cable) and the cable bent oddly to the right.

F**k!

Help!

I want to open my hood, I don't want to destroy my grill.

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2003 Volkswagen Jetta Wolfsburg Edition, "Tiffany," - Black/Black Cloth - 75K miles, Jetta #6; my faithful, turbocharged, BBS-adorned sled

SOLD 3/08 1981 Mercedes Benz 300D, "Elise" - Astral Silver/Black M.B. Tex - 217K miles - I miss her everyday; the best-built car I've owned

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2003 Volkswagen Jetta Wolfsburg Edition, "Tiffany," - Black/Black Cloth - 75K miles, Jetta #6; my faithful, turbocharged, BBS-adorned sled

SOLD 3/08 1981 Mercedes Benz 300D, "Elise" - Astral Silver/Black M.B. Tex - 217K miles - I miss her everyday; the best-built car I've owned

I sure wish that I could help you. I always wondered how the hood could be opened if the cable snapped or was stuck. I had a very sticky latch for a long time that I had to use vise-grips to open (the lever was long gone), until I finally replaced the cable. Of course I never realised that the cable is VERY easilly adjusted and probably I could have solved a lot of heartache by tightening the plastic "turnbuckle" on the cable. All I can say is use vise-grips to clamp on to the cable real good and pull real hard (rest the end of the vise-grip against something so you can twist and get good leverage). It should pop open. You might try doing it when it's hot out (latches might be less sticky) - or maybe cold out (cable would be contracted some) I don't know. It's VERY hard to pop open if your just pulling on the cable with pliers. The actual handle uses quite a bit of leverage to overcome this.

What do you mean the cable bent to the right?

Probably meant the lever, when tugged on to the max, sort of bends towards the center of the car.

Before I came to know all the below by accident, I got under the dash and removed the two 10mm screws mounting the hood lever assembly. Pulling on the lever then popped the hood normally. But who wants to do all that over and over?

Here's the deal with mine:
+ both ends are still attached (no severed cable).
+ working the lever from inside the car the hood never pops up
+ after much gnashing of teeth, found out this was no big deal.
+ I tug hard, no pop, hood still seems flush down.
+ I then go around to see if the safety handle popped out through the grille.
+ if not, I gently tug up on the hood, if free it moves up the half inch or so and the safety handle pops out.

One of these days I'll adjust or replace it...and maybe do a coat hanger work-around no one can see, just as I did on the Porsche trunk.

Good luck.

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FRANKNBENZ

1985 300D "Old Blue" 265,000 (parts car )
1985 300D "Gray Ghost" 245,000
1985 300D "Silver Bullet" 160,000
1975 914 VW/Porsche "BC Car" 125,000
2010 Prius "Shocking!" 60,000
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Also try gettin a helper to press up'n down on the hood while you yank the cable. Stretched out cable on my 116 ran out of adjustment, had to be shimmed to tighten it up.

I'm actually getting it fixed at an independent tomorrow. I figured that because it needed to be fixed anyway, and I don't want it breaking again for a LONG time (and it was already on its way out to begin with) that I'll just bite the bullet and go for it.

__________________
2003 Volkswagen Jetta Wolfsburg Edition, "Tiffany," - Black/Black Cloth - 75K miles, Jetta #6; my faithful, turbocharged, BBS-adorned sled

SOLD 3/08 1981 Mercedes Benz 300D, "Elise" - Astral Silver/Black M.B. Tex - 217K miles - I miss her everyday; the best-built car I've owned