Yes, I am going to search this, just can't right now and if anyone can help off the top of their heads, I would greatly appreciate it. 1980 240D, latch under the dash at left knee pulls out but does not then cause the "tab" to protrude from the grill. Obviously need access to the engine at some point, but more urgent since this lovely girl is oil-thirsty, and needs a top-up, which was what I was planning on doing this am when I found out that the hood wouldn't open. Thanks, Alex.

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"Frau Blue Car" 1980 240D think Frau Bluker, cue the horses, formerly known as "China" from JimmyL
"Gunther" 1982 300D.....Turbo!! A/C!! Sunroof!!
"Fraulein" 1975 240D----Donated to NPR

the cable might have stretched. You can remove the cable from the handle and pull it with vice grips to get additional pull to pop the hood.

It may snap and at that point it may require forcefull means to get to the latch mechanism.

do a search on the subject.

I had the same issue with my 300D a while ago. The cable snapped so I had to destroy the plastic insert to get to the latch mechanism

Get a helper to push down on the hood (center, near the latch) while you pull on the lever. Time it so you are both pushing and pulling at the same time.

Once open, you'll need to adjust the cable, tighten it, so it'll work better next time.

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1982 240 D, 308,000 - 321,127 miles (sold)
1982 300 TD,166,500 - 226,000 miles
1998 E 320, 120,000 - 144,000 miles
2005 C 230 K, 26,000 - 77,000 miles (sold)

Did you try to pull up on the hood? I have to do that after pulling the release (inside the car) to get the handle to pop out.

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Rich

83 300D
98 E320 Wagon

Yeah, and try lifting from the bottom of the grille.

You can bend a coat hanger and reach in through driver's side of the grill to the clevis or pin in the center and pull on it... there may be pictures in the archives... I took some and sent them lately...but do not remember if I posted them or sent them direct...

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1980 240d ,

chain elongation, cam marks reference:
http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/showthread.php?threadid=10414

http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/diesel-discussion/305365-9-degrees-chain-stretch.html

evap fin cleaning:

http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/showthread.php?t=156207&highlight=evaporator

A/C thread

http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/diesel-discussion/297462-c-recommendations-mb-vehicles.html

I've had simliar trouble with both of mine from time to time- there is no mechanical failure but the pull-out lever can seem to get stuck because of the assembly that it attaches to.
This assembly has an additional hook under the hood that functions as a last-resort safety catch. This catch is made of a plastic material that travels along the metal frame as it moves. The place where they touch needs to be greased so it can travel smoothly. Without grease, it sometimes gets completely stuck as the plastic digs into the metal frame.
To me it looks like there is a plastic clip that MBZ installs on the frame where the two meet, but the clip gets worn away over time and exposes the metal.

You can get it open this time by grabbing the grille lever with some needle-nose and giving it a tug... Pull up on the hood as you do. DON'T pull up by the chrome grille or it could snap off- pull up from under the metal of the edge of the hood instead.
Then grease up that hook and the edge of the metal frame. It was difficult to describe it here, but when you see it in front of you it should all make sense.

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Garrison R.
'83 300D

http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/showthread.php?t=289379&highlight=cable

Instructions and pics there.

Even though the name has been illegally changed, I think if you pull off the kick panel under the steering wheel it will open just fine. I never had those on any of my W123's, just put them back on for delivery.
Never had a problem with "CHINA's" hood, and as you said, it needs to be opened often.....

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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

Read this thread for information on opening your hood.
Hood cable, hood latches, hood release, HELP! cannot open hood!




.

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Thermal & Aerodynamic System Engineering (TASE) Senior vehicle instrumentation technician.
Noise Vibration and Harshness (NVH).
Dynamometer.
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Technical Quality Auditor.
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1985 300SD
1983 300D
1984 190D
2003 Volvo V70
2002 Honda Civic

https://www.boldegoist.com/

In order for me to open China's Hood the latch had to be lifted until it was a little bit underneath the kick panel.

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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!!!

Thank you all for your replies. JimmyL, you nailed it. Took the kick panel off to do some more investigating, and decided to give it one more try and voila, opened. So maybe I'll leave the kickpanel off, since it gives me more toe room (size 14 shoe) AND I have to get under that hood often to satisfy her thirst!

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"Frau Blue Car" 1980 240D think Frau Bluker, cue the horses, formerly known as "China" from JimmyL
"Gunther" 1982 300D.....Turbo!! A/C!! Sunroof!!
"Fraulein" 1975 240D----Donated to NPR