When I pull the hood release cable from in the car, the hood only pops up a little bit. This makes it very hard to pull on the tab inside the grill center-left. The spring in the center latch mechanism must be tired, and the hood doesn't pop up high enough. I have lubed the part and no change.

Haven't been able to find a new one online or at Mercedes.

I circled the part on the attachment to clarify.

Ideas???

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1983 240D low miles 156000, and yes, MB still gives out badges

When I pop the hood, it doesn't stick its tongue out far enough for me to pull. So I lift the hood under the grill and the tongue then comes out for me to grab.

Does your hood NOT come up farther if you pull up on it? Does it not stick the tongue out farther?

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'84 190D 2.2 5MT (Red/Palomino) Current car. Love it!
'85 190D 2.2 Auto *Cali* (Blue/Blue) *sold*
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Same here. When I pull the hood release, the hood pops up just a tiny bit. The tongue will still be inside the grill.
I then grab the underside of the grill with both hands and "wiggle" the hood up a little further, until the tongue sticks out.

I remember from when the W123 was new (and I was a little kid and my dad had a young one in the mid '80's) that the tongue should come out fully when pulling the hood release.

Alas, the cars are getting older.

You know, if the hood release on the car is the most pressing issue it's got, it ain't so bad...

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"The MB W123 is so bulletproof, you can drive them forever. Which is a good thing as it takes that long to get anywhere."
Betsie: 1984 W123 300D (hobby, 280k miles)
Myrla: 2001 Mazda Protege 2.0 ES 5spd (daily driver, 130k miles)
The Turd: 2007 Toyota Camry (wife's car, 118k miles)

What I would do is oil the latch mechanism....After all these years they get gunked up and usually a spray down with clean and 3 in 1 oil will make them act like new. I have also needed to replace the pull cable on one of them as it was stretched out...It can also be adjusted....One last thing and I was experiencing this on the euro....just fixed it....The radiator support member can be tweaked from a fender bender or front end accident...As soon as I beat the heck out of the cross member, the hood started popping fully up...I was shocked I fixed something I didn't set out to fix

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I don't remember now if I tried that, as it was last week. Will give it a try, and report back when the car is returned to me after oil change, probably tomorrow.

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1983 240D low miles 156000, and yes, MB still gives out badges

THANKS

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1983 240D low miles 156000, and yes, MB still gives out badges

Of course. You're welcome.

You'll probably be able to pull it up and it'll stick its tongue out at you.

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'84 190D 2.2 5MT (Red/Palomino) Current car. Love it!
'85 190D 2.2 Auto *Cali* (Blue/Blue) *sold*
http://badges.fuelly.com/images/sig-us/302601.png
http://i959.photobucket.com/albums/a...0/sideview.png

I have always liked your light-hearted and sincere responses.

When I picked up the car, I jiggled the hood up and down a couple of times, and sure enough, it did stick its tongue out at me just as if it came of the assembly line.

All around MPG is about 28-29 and on the road, 33+. The car still starts INSTANTLY.

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1983 240D low miles 156000, and yes, MB still gives out badges