HELP: Can't Open Hood B7 S4

[fast04s4]

So I've done a ton a research on this topic. Almost all information is for A4's though not S4's with a V8. Like so many before me, my hood latch in the cabin broke. I really needed to open the hood so i tried the old Honda trick of getting vise grips and pulling the hell out of it. Of course i got a little out of hand and the cable under the hood snapped . So now I have been trying to figure out how to open the hood. Has anybody with a B7 S4 been able to successfully open the hood. If so how did you go about it. I have heard of people using a saw to saw the U off the hood. But after looking at it I couldn't see a good way to go about it. Any help would be great.
Thanks

[Blackstallion]

oh man I feel your pain - except my battery was fucking dead too.

I left it to my tech guy but I recall there is 3 torx screws around the latch. Another way is you can also go from underneath with a tall screw driver or something..

It's a complete PIA - you'll find some threads on it..

[Blackstallion]

that first idea doesn't work on b7

[fast04s4]

Yeah i was going to say. HA. anyway I found this video on youtube. I was going to get the car in the air to see if this idea is even plausable on a s4. Video says a4 but it does look like a 3.0 so im not sure of the difference in room
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=esj0kDcimRw

[b57]

happened to me last month. i watched that video but didn't have enough clearance on the s4 to do what the guy did. i did find the video very helpful for understanding how the locking mechanism works.

i was able to open it differently- my headlights were out so i just reached through the hole and kept feeling for the locking mechanism

[mnthny4]

Want to help you with pic's put just cant find how to add them ,option for pic adding is not there ,cause i have a b7 and it happen to me and a made a tool for this ,u will also need a video inspection camera [BORE SCOPE] ,bought from advance auto for $89 and a very thin long steel rod from home depot 1/4" x 36" round bar brand everbilt , bend one end in a 'L" for a handle and the other end slight "s" meaning a double looking 'L' first bend some what long then the second very short bend up in the air that is the part that will pull latch ,all this done from under the car using the video camera to see latch and the rod to fly latch at the bottom of the latch mechanism ,sort of hard to put info together for this but i tried ,would had love to add pic's of the tool i made ,but u have a idea ,good luck.

[fast04s4]

Want to help you with pic's put just cant find how to add them ,option for pic adding is not there ,cause i have a b7 and it happen to me and a made a tool for this ,u will also need a video inspection camera ,bought from advance auto for $89 and a very thin long steel rod from home depot 1/4" x 36" round bar brand everbilt , bend one end in a 'L" for a handle and the other end slight "s" meaning a double looking 'l' first bend some what long then the second very short bend up in the air that is the part that will pull latch ,all this done from under the car using the video camera to see latch and the rod to fly latch at the bottom of the latch mechanism ,sort of hard to put info together for this but i tried ,would had love to add pic's of the tool i made ,but u have a idea ,good luck.

If you have pics you can email me ([email protected]) that would help alot. I am picturing the tool you made to be pretty similar to the one in the video that i posted. And you used a camera to see what was going on up there. Seems to be no easy way out of this.

[Terry.Reese]

I have kind of skinny arms, i reached inside and squirmed until i was able to get a hold of the cable and pulled, popped it and then fixed cable. zip tied that small plastic bracket in place

[mnthny4]

@fast04s4 just sent u pic's via ur aol.com email, IF U CAN POST IT HERE PLEASE DO THANKS COOL

[mnthny4]

Terry.reese ur hand would need to be the size of a steel rod to fit in the space between engine and radiator ,lol .

[AllroadMass]

I ran into this like 2 weeks ago! Don't know how similar they are but this is what I did with my B6 S4.

http://www.audizine.com/forum/showth...se-not-working

[mnthny4]

Fast04s4 did u get the hood open

[fast04s4]

I was able to get the hood open yesterday! Sorry for the delay, i had to go out and pick up a bore scope. With me on the bore scope and a friend on the rod it took about 20-30 mins and finally got it. The bore scope ended up being a must because you really can't see a damn thing. the rod i used was 1/4" steel rod and bent a small L at one end and a bigger L at the other end. The small L was used to get into the Latch and the big L was used as the handle to turn. I used the same method as the youtube video i posted. You guys have been a big help, I hope this will help others in the future. I ordered a new cable, and latch from ECS right away!

[Terry.Reese]

Terry.reese ur hand would need to be the size of a steel rod to fit in the space between engine and radiator ,lol .

yeah, after rethinking when i did it, my headlight was out of the car, went in sideways.. lack of sleep...

Although I was able to put my hand down from the top and touch the tensioner, so I guess i do have a really skinny arm..lol

[mnthny4]

Good that my method worked for you ,cool.

[mnthny4]

Can you post the video link for other people who may run into this issue down the line

[scorpioS4]

Can you post the video link for other people who may run into this issue down the line

YES PLEASE. currently have this same issue going on with my car.

[neilpaku]

I just did the "remove grille, undo three nuts" version - took about ten minutes and no special tools. It's very easy on the B6. Picked up new cable today - the outer sheath had rusted and expanded, losing "pull" range on the inner cable.

[AllroadMass]

I just did the "remove grille, undo three nuts" version - took about ten minutes and no special tools. It's very easy on the B6. Picked up new cable today - the outer sheath had rusted and expanded, losing "pull" range on the inner cable.

👍👍

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