Yes, I know where the hood release is under the steering wheel, that's definitely not the problem.

When checking out the car, the previous owner had no trouble in getting it to open. Also, my mechanic cheated by using a screwdriver, then realized it needed a "twisting" action or something. He showed me, but I guess I didn't remember very well

I asked friendly forum member dDub on AIM and he said all he has to do to open his n/a s4 (same car as me basically) is pull the hood up as high as it will go then pull up on the lever. That didn't work for me.

I'd really like to check my oil and coolant levels before all of the driving I'm about to do.

Thanks

 

Someone please. This should be cake for you guys. I want to go out (drive) soon.

 

so is the cable busted or the latch bad??? you need to provide some details on what the issue is.

and wait at least a day for a reply before bumping... 10 minutes may be an emergency on your part, but in the real world it is not

 

The hood pops open partially upon using the hood release under the steering wheel, as it should.

I can't see why anything would be broken if other people have managed to do it without a screwdriver. There is just some technique that is beyond me...

 

So it pops open......

Is the problem that you cant release it from that position to open the hood up - or is it that you can't get the hood to latch and stay closed?

Not quite clear.

 

then you reach in, and move the safetly latch and lift

You do know all cars have a safety latch that needs to be released by reaching under the hood opening as well; right???

 

The hood can be closed after being "halfway" opened from the inside-car release. The problem is that I can't do the last step in getting it open all of the way. It only opens about two inches. The lever needs to be manipulated in some crazy way.

 

you stick your fingers in and lift up on the safety latch release

 

I'm very aware that all cars have a safety latch. This one has stumped me, that's all. I have no trouble FINDING the safety latch, it's just pushing and pulling on it hasn't worked yet.

 

When I was talking to him on AIM he was saying his main problem was not FINDING the safety latch or any of the steps described so far. Once the hood had been popped and his hand was on the latch, he would push up on it and the hood would not open. He was also telling me that a friend of his and his mechanic were able to get it open only by twisting the latch some way. This was strange to me and made me think something was either not tight enough or out of sorts. I have never had to do this so I didn't know what to tell him.

 

Huh? We were talking about the safety latch and you said all you had to do to open your's was to hold the hood up all the way open then push up on the latch toward the hood. That didn't work for me.

 

Yah, I was just explaining that your problem wasn't what people kept saying to do. I was trying to explain that yours is weird or messed up in some way so it requires some twisting or manipulating of some sort.

 

Ahh. I see

So my car is some fked up exception to the rule...

 

I guess so... I really don't know what to say, all the cars I've owned and all the cars in my household right get the hoods open the same way. Good luck on getting it open.

 

well I don't know if this can apply but the tailgate latch on my truck got broken somehow and in order to open it you have to pull up on the latch and then grab this bar that would normally be connected to the latch and pull it to the right.