'87 4kq hood release: Audi gods yank my chain

[Andrew Buc]

On New Year's Day, I took the car out for ~30 freeway miles to warm it 
up to change the oil. I got home, and suddenly the hood wouldn't open! 
I checked the archives and Huw's page about this 
(http://www.humanspeakers.com/audi/hoodcable.htm), but I just couldn't 
see where to insert the screwdriver or what to push on. So I went off 
and bought a small flashlight and batteries in the hope of seeing 
better, and when I got back, the hood opened, pretty as you please! 
Maybe the fact that I spent some money is more important than the 
(small) amount I spent! :)

During my attempts to get the hood open, I found that the left side (as 
viewed from the driver's seat) was unlatching, but the right wasn't. 
When it decided to open, I found a burned-out H4 bulb (which I'd 
swapped out the day b4) on the horizontal panel behind the right 
headlight. I mention this for the sake of completeness, but the bulb 
wasn't broken or deformed in any way, so I'm not sure it had anything 
to do with it. Of course I tossed it.

Quitting while I was ahead, I closed the hood and latched it but didn't 
push it home the last 1/4". This morning I got the oil changed. I also 
had a neighbor pull on the lever while I watched the action up front, 
and the release levers seemed to move as they should. I have to say 
that I still don't see how I'd get the hood open if this happens again, 
except by inserting some kind of hook into the loops. This doesn't seem 
to square w/the talk of using a screwdriver. What am I missing? I'd 
also like to be able to close the hood all the way again. Thank you.