Hood release lever broken - replacement
Hood release lever broken - replacement
Hi everyone!
Wanted to clean my engine bay and the red handle has been pretty hard to pull since I bought this car 6 months ago.
I just figured it's harder moving than on my old Coupe. Today I noticed the handle doesn't work at all anymore.
Looked at it and the mechanism seems to be a wire with a metal ball on the end that slides right into the red handle under the dash.
That red handle seems to have cracked.
Does anyone know where to get a replacement and how to install it? Also, is there a way to adjust that wire so it isn't so hard to pull on it to release the hood mechanism? On my old Coupe it was very easy to pull on the SRT it's very difficult to pull which I think led to it cracking.
Thanks for any advise!
Nick
Wanted to clean my engine bay and the red handle has been pretty hard to pull since I bought this car 6 months ago.
I just figured it's harder moving than on my old Coupe. Today I noticed the handle doesn't work at all anymore.
Looked at it and the mechanism seems to be a wire with a metal ball on the end that slides right into the red handle under the dash.
That red handle seems to have cracked.
Does anyone know where to get a replacement and how to install it? Also, is there a way to adjust that wire so it isn't so hard to pull on it to release the hood mechanism? On my old Coupe it was very easy to pull on the SRT it's very difficult to pull which I think led to it cracking.
Thanks for any advise!
Nick
Re: Hood release lever broken - replacement
Hi everyone!
Wanted to clean my engine bay and the red handle has been pretty hard to pull since I bought this car 6 months ago.
I just figured it's harder moving than on my old Coupe. Today I noticed the handle doesn't work at all anymore.
Looked at it and the mechanism seems to be a wire with a metal ball on the end that slides right into the red handle under the dash.
That red handle seems to have cracked.
Does anyone know where to get a replacement and how to install it? Also, is there a way to adjust that wire so it isn't so hard to pull on it to release the hood mechanism? On my old Coupe it was very easy to pull on the SRT it's very difficult to pull which I think led to it cracking.
Thanks for any advise!
Nick
Wanted to clean my engine bay and the red handle has been pretty hard to pull since I bought this car 6 months ago.
I just figured it's harder moving than on my old Coupe. Today I noticed the handle doesn't work at all anymore.
Looked at it and the mechanism seems to be a wire with a metal ball on the end that slides right into the red handle under the dash.
That red handle seems to have cracked.
Does anyone know where to get a replacement and how to install it? Also, is there a way to adjust that wire so it isn't so hard to pull on it to release the hood mechanism? On my old Coupe it was very easy to pull on the SRT it's very difficult to pull which I think led to it cracking.
Thanks for any advise!
Nick
Look at your 2nd photo, looks like a simple fix:
- The RED handle has a hole approximately half way down the handle, on the side
- In that same photo, there is a small silver cylinder attached to a wire, jammed behind the RED handle
- that cylinder belongs in that hole in the RED lever
- Get your needle nose pliers out and "grab" the cylinder and push it into the hole in the RED handle
- make sure you push it into the hole fully, should not stick out, must be flush
- the silver cylinder was partially, causing the difficulty in opening your hood.
- make sure the WIRE slips thru the notch near the whole
Dennis
DTMenace
Re: Hood release lever broken - replacement
Nick
Look at your 2nd photo, looks like a simple fix:
Dennis
DTMenace
Look at your 2nd photo, looks like a simple fix:
- The RED handle has a hole approximately half way down the handle, on the side
- In that same photo, there is a small silver cylinder attached to a wire, jammed behind the RED handle
- that cylinder belongs in that hole in the RED lever
- Get your needle nose pliers out and "grab" the cylinder and push it into the hole in the RED handle
- make sure you push it into the hole fully, should not stick out, must be flush
- the silver cylinder was partially, causing the difficulty in opening your hood.
- make sure the WIRE slips thru the notch near the whole
Dennis
DTMenace
I think this handle will need to be replaced but I don't know how or where I can get one of those.
Re: Hood release lever broken - replacement
I checked the assembly and looks like it's held in place by one screw so should be easy to replace and then loop the cylinder into that hole like Dennis mentioned.
Re: Hood release lever broken - replacement
Lubricate the hood latch locking assembly and cable, the stress caused by lack of lubricant is probably why it cracked , you can buy the handle here
https://www.autohausaz.com/pn/1248800320
or here
https://www.fcpeuro.com/Mercedes~Ben...se%20handle%20
https://www.autohausaz.com/pn/1248800320
or here
https://www.fcpeuro.com/Mercedes~Ben...se%20handle%20
Last edited by dcskmail; 02-26-2023 at 09:40 AM.
Re: Hood release lever broken - replacement
Lubricate the hood latch locking assembly and cable, the stress caused by lack of lubricant is probably why it cracked , you can buy the handle here
https://www.autohausaz.com/pn/1248800320
or here
https://www.fcpeuro.com/Mercedes~Ben...se%20handle%20
https://www.autohausaz.com/pn/1248800320
or here
https://www.fcpeuro.com/Mercedes~Ben...se%20handle%20
Re: Hood release lever broken - replacement
Yes the latch under the hood , I use white lithium grease. As far as the cable I've been using penetrating oil on both ends ,tape a cotton ball on both ends and soak it with lube it seems to eventually creep into the cable. This maintenance works for about every hinge point on the car, spoiler, hood, doors etc. & flap cables on the roadster
Last edited by dcskmail; 02-26-2023 at 01:14 PM.
Re: Hood release lever broken - replacement
Yes the latch under the hood , I use white lithium grease. As far as the cable I've been using penetrating oil on both ends ,tape a cotton ball on both ends and soak it with lube it seems to eventually creep into the cable. This maintenance works for about every hinge point on the car, spoiler, hood, doors etc. & flap cables on the roadster
Re: Hood release lever broken - replacement
Re: Hood release lever broken - replacement
My hood latch went with no warning. I just changed the engine air filters last week and it was very easy to operate. Does anyone have a latch for sale; I would like to replace both halves; the part on the hood itself and the part on the upper radiator mount bracket. As an aside, my trunk lid is also stuck closed and the car is going in for a new top on Friday. Any suggestions as how to access the bow release in the trunk?
Re: Hood release lever broken - replacement
https://www.autohausaz.com/pn/MB-1708800560 Genuine Mercedes Hood Latch; Front Upper | 1708800560
Genuine Mercedes Hood Safety Catch; Front Lower | 1708800160
Don't know if this works found on the web "There is a simple backdoor method to unlock the trunk, try this first before trying to release the locking arm through the right license plate light opening.With the ignition “On” press the “Top Down “ button. While holding the button turn off ignition and hold button 10 seconds. Trunk should unlock."
Re: Hood release lever broken - replacement
Thanks for the tip. Turning on the ignition to the accessory position, pushing the top down button, turning off the ignition key, and waiting ten seconds to release the top down button worked like a charm. I don't know what that trick does because I could feel the latch working when I tried the key fob, but it did nothing. I don't know how much that tip saved me, but thanks again.
Re: Hood release lever broken - replacement
The latch under the hood , I use white lithium grease. As far as the cable I've been using penetrating oil on both ends ,tape a cotton ball on both ends and soak it with lube it seems to eventually creep into the cable. This maintenance works for about every hinge point on the car, spoiler, hood, doors etc. & flap cables on the roadster. Here's a link for the hood release handle
https://www.autohausaz.com/pn/1248800320
https://www.autohausaz.com/pn/1248800320
Re: Hood release lever broken - replacement
[QUOTE=dcskmail;981155] The latch under the hood , I use white lithium grease. As far as the cable I've been using penetrating oil on both ends ,tape a cotton ball on both ends and soak it with lube it seems to eventually creep into the cable. This maintenance works for about every hinge point on the car, spoiler, hood, doors etc. & flap cables on the roadster. Here's a link for the hood release handle
https://www.autohausaz.com/pn/1248800320[/QUOTE
I have no trust in lithium grease, it just sits there. Grease is at its best when it is physically placed between the moving parts. I use light machine oil on the latch, hinges etc. as it flows into gaps. Engine oil around SAE 30 or 40 would be fine.
https://www.autohausaz.com/pn/1248800320[/QUOTE
I have no trust in lithium grease, it just sits there. Grease is at its best when it is physically placed between the moving parts. I use light machine oil on the latch, hinges etc. as it flows into gaps. Engine oil around SAE 30 or 40 would be fine.
Re: Hood release lever broken - replacement
[QUOTE=onehundred80;981188]
I concur on using a light machine oil.
I would look into buying Motorcycle Cable Lube for the hood release cable. A search on eBay or Amazon will provide quite a few to choose from. Also available at many local Auto Part Stores.
The latch under the hood , I use white lithium grease. As far as the cable I've been using penetrating oil on both ends ,tape a cotton ball on both ends and soak it with lube it seems to eventually creep into the cable. This maintenance works for about every hinge point on the car, spoiler, hood, doors etc. & flap cables on the roadster. Here's a link for the hood release handle
https://www.autohausaz.com/pn/1248800320[/QUOTE
I have no trust in lithium grease, it just sits there. Grease is at its best when it is physically placed between the moving parts. I use light machine oil on the latch, hinges etc. as it flows into gaps. Engine oil around SAE 30 or 40 would be fine.
https://www.autohausaz.com/pn/1248800320[/QUOTE
I have no trust in lithium grease, it just sits there. Grease is at its best when it is physically placed between the moving parts. I use light machine oil on the latch, hinges etc. as it flows into gaps. Engine oil around SAE 30 or 40 would be fine.
I would look into buying Motorcycle Cable Lube for the hood release cable. A search on eBay or Amazon will provide quite a few to choose from. Also available at many local Auto Part Stores.
Last edited by dedwards0323; 07-21-2023 at 04:07 PM.
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