[G35POPPEDMYCHERRY]

Hey,

My car has been asking for a quart on and off and my fucking hood is welded shut on the passenger side, I’ve tried to look for the cables to pull or even stick a screwdriver and hit the latch. If you see the picture attached the drivers side it doesn’t seem like anyone that would work, in fact it looks like something is blocking it like a rubber or metal trim….what am I supposed to do here, if I have to take off the wheel and liner I’ll just go to the Indy. Am I missing anything I can do without taking off the wheel cover.

[StradaRedlands]

Have you tried going through the passenger wheel well and pulling with a big hook? Take of the wheel, and the liner, then you should be able to see the cable going into the latch mechanism. Should be able to get a pick hook and pull. Hope that helps!

[G35POPPEDMYCHERRY]

Originally Posted by StradaRedlands

Have you tried going through the passenger wheel well and pulling with a big hook? Take of the wheel, and the liner, then you should be able to see the cable going into the latch mechanism. Should be able to get a pick hook and pull. Hope that helps!

Thanks man I have a slightly tweaked solution but a point most people omit, see below. Always that’s for your help, you always seem to help me out in the e9x forums since my f80 is a garage queen.

[G35POPPEDMYCHERRY]

Okay so I have finally unlatched the damn hood.

KEY POINT THAT IS often not mentioned:

USE UR HAND.

Lift the driver side hood, ideally someone else or wedge it. And reach for the closer cable and yank it you should here a click or a noise. Then go back inside and pull the hood release and voila. A lot more tactile with your hands then blindly pulling with a hook. Minor hand soreness afterwards however the n52 has finally been quenched of the 5w-30 that it’s been panging for.

I didn’t have wd -40 since I was at my girls spot. But will lube the latches next time as they were very stiff.

Pics stolen from YouTube video

[StradaRedlands]

When in doubt, yank on it!

[PhaseP]

Reminds me to lubricate the hood latches. I used to do that periodically, recent years didn't. A teflon based lubricant works good in my opinion, not to attract dirt.
I had also replaced the section of the latch cables that go from that small black box to the latches on the bumper at some time during ownership. Maybe ten years ago. I had noticed difficulty releasing the latches open by pulling the handle inside at the footwell, and so replaced it which had helped.

[lobotomy]

Originally Posted by G35POPPEDMYCHERRY

Okay so I have finally unlatched the damn hood.

I didn’t have wd -40 since I was at my girls spot. But will lube the latches next time as they were very stiff.

I see a new hood latch cable assembly in the near future...!

When mine jammed, I used the same method you did to get the hood open. I thought lubing would help, others told me to have a new cable ready!
They were right! A few openings later...same problem! Cable stretches to the point where it cannot pull back the latch far enough to release it.

[eljay]

Thanks for posting the solution!

I seem to have the opposite problem recently: my driver's side latch is not engaging, so the hood is loose on that side. I need to investigate.

For lubrication, don't use WD40. It's only a temp solution. Some silicone spray/grease will stay there and not wash out.