Hood release problem

[DougM]

I searched a bunch but could not find what I am looking for. My hood release suddenly stopped working. I removed the latch and popped the cable from the "cam" since at full extension, it was not releasing the hood latch. I pulled it with pliers and it popped the drives side of the hood only and released the latch. It also created an extra 1-2" of slack in the cable at the pull lever????? I could not get the passenger side popped so I closed it back down because I had to go somewhere. Now I am stuck with a disconnected or stretched cable that won't pop the hood and release the latch anymore.
Does anyone have good pictures or a link to a thread of how the release system is routed across the front of the car and how the pull works. I read that you can pop out a grill and access a few points that can release the pins. The online parts diagrams really don't give much reference to what is really going on under there.

[wpl11972]

I have the same problem. Has anybody ran into this. also passanger side. removed cable. this sucks.

[wpl11972]

I had to remove the kidney grill. Just pulled out the grill. Used a sawzall to cut the hood pin. Went on real OEM parts are not that bad. Need to replace cables. Hope this helps

[SlickGT1]

Damn that sucks. Got any pics? You know how they say, pics or it didnt happen. Lol. Yea what part numbers did you have to order?

[anthony1k]

I replaced the entire mechanism a few months ago. The latches were badly corroded and the cables were stretched. Going by memory, there are 3 cables and the 2 latches. Parts were less than $100 from the dealer. The job itself is pretty easy if you exersise common sense. Not nearly as involved as one of the postings on this forum was suggesting.

[larrylava]

I had this happen to me on my e46. I too popped the kidney gr8ill and used a sawall to get the hood up. I replaced the whole hood latch mechanism and it was as good as new. Its a PITA thow.

[duckseatfree]

I have a similar problem. When I pull the hood release handle I go around the front of the car and can't open the hood.

I have to "prop" up the hood release handle (usually jam some napkins to keep the handle up or have someone holding it up) in order to have the hood latch release. Kinda frustrating...

[larrylava]

That's what mine started doing before the cables froze up. There's 3 cables to open the hood. The one between the latch holes is the one that rustes out and freezes up. I would plan on replacing them as soon as you can before you can't open your hood anymore.