Snapped hood release cable

[Frank de Kat]

>--__--__--
>
>Message: 15
>Date: Sun, 17 Dec 2000 08:23:13 -0800 (PST)
>From: Peter Buss <buss_p at yahoo.com>
>Subject: Snapped hood release cable
>To: quattro at audifans.com
>Cc: buss_p at yahoo.com
>
>Well I started off this weekend by trying to replace
>the front struts and mounts on my 87 4kcsq. Of course
>the first thing that happened is the hood release
>cable snapped right at the release handle in the
>driver foot well. Luckily the hood did release and I
>got it open. Of course on a Sunday no one has a cable
>in stock and I have to drive from Pittsburgh to
>Cleveland tomorrow. I'll have to put the hood down and
>order a cable. Is there an easy way to open the hood
>later? I thought that I'd seen a right up on it
>somewhere but of course I don't remember where. 
>
>Thanks for the help.
>
>=====
>Peter Buss
>87 4kcsq "Wilma" 145K

I too had that problem. Used the vice grips that the PO left me.
Worked great, until the little bit left to hook the vice grips on broke off
too.
(Fortunatly!) for some reason, I had the grill off at the time. Easy enough
to hook the 'springs' that release the hood, using what's left of the cable. 
Ended up splitting the wire into two bits, and hooked each bit to a hood
release 'spring', and threadng the free ends of this  mess out throught the
grille. Pull each wire, and the respective latch pops free.

Funny enough, I was at the STPR rally with my car (white, 4000q, with the
hood release wires hanging out the grill), and I see another white 4000q,
running around Wellboro. Turns out it's Tim O'Neil (He runs a rally/driving
school in N.H.). You'd never guess.... He's got two pieces of wire hanging
out the front of his grill too, as his release cable had also broken!

When I replaced got the new cable, I also got the little plastic 'golf Tee'
that the cable slides through, and also got a new 'end piece', that secures
the end of the cable. 
Good to have that part, as the set screw snapped when trying to get the old
'end piece' off. If they have to order that cable for you, may as well
order those parts too.
It's a way easier jpb if you take out the grill, and maybe ever the left
headlight assembly.

I was surprised that the hood cable only cost 21.00 (CDN), and even comes
with the handle. Dealer did no stock it though. "We only stock parts that
we sell at least three of in a year".

Regards,

Frank de Kat 
fdekat at sentex.net   
Dundas, Ontario, Canada

Audi 4000CSq (x2 !)
http://www.sentex.net/~fdekat
(To see "The Rally Pictures")