I have been trying for over a week to open my daughters A6 1999 2.8 hood. the cable came off.

so far have removed bumper, grill and air intake plastic nozzle in hopes to reach backside of latch. spent 3.5 hrs last week trying to get arm up through bottom of car and across. If my arm was way skinnier and a foot longer that mioght of worked.

What I really need is pictures of the backside of the latch so I can fashion something to hit and push release lever. I have started one out of 1/4 rod that I have bent, but cannot find the lever.

the 1999 2.8 seems to be different than anyone else that posted ideas on forums. there is less than 1/4 inch behind radiator from bottom, you cant get near it if you remove wheel well.

So please post pictures so I can figure this out!

 

no one with a picture?

 

maybe this will help?

How do open the hood when the cable has broken on my 1999 audi - Fixya

 

Thanks for the reply.
NO that does not work, it is not from a 1999 A6, maybe an A4.

There is only 1/8" -1/4" space on the backside of the radiator on an A6, and absolutely no way to even see that far up behind there.

Again if anyone could please send me a photo of the backside of the latch that would be great.

I have spent 4.5 hours so far trying to get in.

I suppose next attempt I will remove the 3 nuts holding the latch to the hood, but the 3rd nut is way behind the latch and will no doubt be extremely difficult to get out, if even possible.

 

Have you tried removing the inner wheel well guards that basically keep all kinds of road junk from getting into your engine bay? I'm just doing this from memory, and have never had this happen to me. But I'm guessing that removing the driver's side inner wheel well cover might give you angles that you previously had not had on the latch.

 

We took the passenger wheel well out, not even close.

I will have to think on it, but maybe the driver side would help. one of the problems is how far away the latch is from your entry point.

thanks for the idea!

 

Driver side is a lot more open than the passenger side. Have you thought about just taking it to an Audi dealer and having them do it? Might be worth your time/sanity at this point...

 

http://imgur.com/Q26cwnb,r1tF8wd,NCt...7UBew4,XKjFE4j

 

Finally success, so here is what it took for the next poor fellow:

taking out the driver or passenger side wheel well does nothing for you.

remove front bumper and then you will have a pathway across from drivers side to latch area. I also was able to remove the back cover of the driver headlight to get a little more room.

I made a rod out of 1/4 round and bent with a hook at the end.

sit on ground in front of car near driver headlight and thread the rod across to the latch area. then you can try to hook the release.

it only took 15 minutes once i had the rod bent to fit.

the rod is about 22"long and you can kind of see it is bent curving towards the front of car ending in a 3/4" hook. the other picture shows the latch you are aiming for, it is pretty much right in the center of the car.

maybe an alternative is to go in from top, you can easily see the latch in the 3rd picture, but when the hood is closed there is all king of stuff in the way.

anyway, i hope this helps someone else with a 1999 A6 2.8 open their stuck hood someday!