1993 Audi 90 CS hood release not working

[rshislerjr]

Greetings,

I've got this 1993 Audi 90 CS. I have a problem with the hood release, I pull the lever in by the drivers left foot, you can hear the drivers side pin release at the hood, but the passenger side pin under the hood doesn't release. I don't have any problem with the center pull in the grill and I've opened the hood without incident in the past. I think the cable isn't releasing on the passenger side pin under the hood, is there a way to get under the car and manually release it, either by the cable or an alternate method, any help offered here will be greatly appreciated.

Thank you in advance, Rob

[ctesla]

can not get to those cables from underside (too much; AC condenser lines, radiator, fans and shroud, etc.) on the passenger side.
from the top, there are small (approx. .5" dia.) holes next to where the guide pin drops into its housing slot. these holes you can see the hood release cable (or lack there of). if the cable is there, it is probably stretched, if it is not; then broken.
naturally, the "correct" way to fix is to replace; however, my advice: if the former try a lubricant or white grease and check the alignment of the pin on the hood, it my be hitting off center, and therby "hanging up" in the recepticle area. also if the cable is stretched and this zero dollar remedy isn't working, a pair of needle nose through the inspection hole and merely kinking the wire to give it enough tightness to pop the hood pin.
if the latter, then either replacing the cable assembly = $$$
or removing that one passenger hood pin with a 30mm? wrench (or crescent), as this will not interfere with the alignment of the hood, the operation of the driver's side, nor allow the hood to rip off at high velocity (as one pin still retains the lock, and the center hasp/hook holds the hood down until pulled from the Audi insignia)
hope this helps: [email protected]
certified ASE instructor

[rshislerjr]

Well, that was a pretty big help. I agree, virtually impossible (almost) to do anything from underneath, you can however get a flat bladed screw driver between the mount for the pin release, and the rod for the pin release, this from underneath with a very bright light, this was a miracle in my opinion, but it wasn't enough on it's own.

Then I did what you should absolutely never do, pried and jiggled and wrestled with the hood on the passenger side until it popped open. Now, having gotten that far and luckily not bending the metal or scratching the paint... Once havingi it opened, I backed out the pin on the passenger side with a 30 mm wrench, adjusted it to be centered in the hole (better than before). Then I checked the cable, not broken, 100% intact, but too loose on the passenger side. Loosened the cable lock, pulled a little cable thru and retightened, white grease on the pin hole and pin, and voila !, fixed !

I'd have to say there was considerable luck involved here. I can't say I could get away with this twice. But it's opening and closing like new with perfect alignement at the fenders. Thank you for your advice. I'm thinking I will run a fine wire from each pin release to the underside of the car somewhere so that when the cable fails (and it will at some point in the life of the car) I will still be able to manually release the hood pins by pulling the wire.