Aftermarket Hood Release Handle

[xKrNxBoix]

So... recently I've broken my hood release handle and am currently looking to buy a new one...

This is the OEM one that ECStuning sells...
http://www.ecstuning.com/Audi-B6_A4-...Body/ES441735/

I really do not want to buy another OEM one since the plastic is of low-quality and breaks very easily... Are there any aftermarket ones or stronger OEM ones i can replace it with? It would be great if it was metal...

sorry i know this is a weird question to ask...

Thanks in advance!

[JEENYUS]

get the old one and take it to a machine shop and have them make you one out of metal... it should be fairly easy.

[xKrNxBoix]

So, i guess if I go the route of making one at a machine shop, i probably should ask them to also make the piece that holds the handle too?

[alpinestar180]

to be honest you only need a metal one if you dont have enough grease on latch. mine opens with one finger easily. it was impossible to use before. about 10 drops of 3-in 1oil later and its buttery smooth.

[xKrNxBoix]

Where exactly do you apple the grease? I tried spraying some pbblaster on the part on top of the radiator that holds the hood close. Any other places i should apply it to?

[widgget]

pb blaster is not a lubricant, it is meant to break down rust. use some GREASE, not wd40, not bp blaster, some real grease.

[xKrNxBoix]

yea.. i know pbblaster/WD40 doesn't do the job... thats the only thing i had atm before a long drive home. Any suggestions on where to apply it to?

[$teve]

open the hood and put the grease in the crevice where the hood pin goes into. best way i can explain it i cant think of the appropriate terminology lol.

[alpinestar180]

Lithium Grease works nicely. Just put a glob of it in the reciever for the hood latch with a qtip and move it around a little

[xKrNxBoix]

Thanks everyone! appreciate the help... will order an OEM one and try this out...

[my1stturbo]

Not to thread jack but I'm curious about lubing the release up too: do you also need to lube at the handle itself or just at the latch in the engine bay? My handle takes about 3-4 pulls to pop the hood. I tried pulling the cable from the hood release mechanism under the hood and sprayed some WD-40 in there (only thing I had at the time) and worked the cable back and forth and noticed that it had about 1" of play and moved pretty easily.

[alpinestar180]

the hood release should move easily when the hood is open, but when its closed is when it really counts to have grease in there. i would not suggest putting lube at the handle itself. just put some grease in the hood latch on the bumper carrier. work the latch a few times and call it a day.

[my1stturbo]

Thanks. I tried it at the latch before but maybe it was because I used the wrong type of lube. I'll give some white lithium a try. Is the spray a good option or just the regular grease?

[$teve]

mine was sealed shut when i got the car, i almost broke my release handle.. now i can pop it open first try with one finger. lube is your friend ;)

[dougyfresh]

I really do not want to buy another OEM one since the plastic is of low-quality and breaks very easily...

That is not the case.

The reason why the OEM one breaks is because the cable itself fills up with gunk and becomes harder and harder to pull over time. If you spray some silicone spray on the end of the cable (hood release mechanism end) and work the cable back and forth a few times it will then feel effortless to pull the hood release lever under the dash.

This is common with every cable actuated device.










Find root cause. If root cause determines the design is inadequate then redesign. In this case the root cause is dirt on the cable increasing friction. Increased friction/drag puts more stress on the lever. In time, the lever will break (because it is a moment arm).


EDIT: I did not read any posts aside from the first post in this thread when I drafted my reply.

[my1stturbo]

I'll give this another try. I used WD-40 and while the cable moved freely when it wasn't attached to the mechanism when I closed the hood I had the same problem. I have to pull the handle, push it back, repeat for a few cycles to get the hood open. Would love to get this "fixed" before the handle snaps or the cable breaks.

[BARRY]

what the HEEZE? my stock one is metal! i bent it in an accident i got into a few years back. i just bent it back straight.

[xKrNxBoix]

That is not the case.

The reason why the OEM one breaks is because the cable itself fills up with gunk and becomes harder and harder to pull over time. If you spray some silicone spray on the end of the cable (hood release mechanism end) and work the cable back and forth a few times it will then feel effortless to pull the hood release lever under the dash.

This is common with every cable actuated device.



Find root cause. If root cause determines the design is inadequate then redesign. In this case the root cause is dirt on the cable increasing friction. Increased friction/drag puts more stress on the lever. In time, the lever will break (because it is a moment arm).


EDIT: I did not read any posts aside from the first post in this thread when I drafted my reply.

Thanks... i def give that a try and spray on the cable too...

Well... i do know that the problem lies in the cable system not that actual handle... but i still don't think the handle should break that easily when there is a little more friction.. you could tell the handle couldn't really hold that much torque/pressure thats why i was looking into something more durable that can hold up that kind of friction.