Hood Is stuck :(

[92BMW318is]

The hood to the engine compartment is stuck. (Wont pop open)
Im guessing the linkage is broken because when I pull the hood lever (By the clutch pedal) it feels like it moves freely, with out tension.

Is there a Way to fix this? I'm at a loss  on how to go about getting the hood open. I have to check the coolant levels daily. Since i recently drained the radiator.






Side note: Good news is that Replacing the atlernator fixed not only the battery light but made the check engine light go away. The engine light has been on for a year or less.

[DesktopDave]

That happened to mine too.  Hopefully the cable didn't snap too far from the lever.  If you get some locking pliers you can pull on the stub of the cable to unlock it.

If the cable has snapped too far in for that to work, you can usually get a screwdriver onto the latch & manually release it.

I found this, not sure how much it'll help:
http://forums.bimmerforums.com/forum/showthread.php?t=959132

[sailer6460]

look behind the grille. there is a small hole that you can insert a flat bladed screwdriver into and turn. Hood should open.

[92BMW318is]

Okay now when i was driving it back home from work.
It Dies... as im pulling into speedway(gas station). I am not out of gas.

All the lights got dim and engine stoped.
Just replaced alternator just replaced battery....

Some Guy gives me a jump. we let it charge for like 3 mins then. i take off and rush home.  as im pulling it in on the road it begins to die. kept poping the clutch in 2nd gear in order to make it to the drive way.

Hood is stuck and somthing is stopping the battery from charging...
i cannot see what is doing it.

Seems like i have a long week ahead of me.... lucky im off mon,tues,wends,thursday.

Any sugestions please feel free to post on the charging issue. later ill post a solution on the hood problem. thanks for all the advice

[92BMW318is]

Solution:

Took off both front kidneys: Took a long flathead screwdriver and proceeded to hammer the screwdriver into plastic case of the hood clamp: had to do this to both of them until Plastic broke off and the inner spring was exposed: bent the spring backwards and lifted on hood: repeated for other side until hood was freed: Replaced hoodclamps with spare hoodclamps I got at PullaPart.

Still havent found what is causing the battery to not charge, new alternator and new battery are on the car..

[B318M42W]

when you replaced alt and bat, did you clean the wires and mating surfaces? check the ground strap? and take  multimeter to the charging circuit with the electrical troubleshooting manual. it's pretty easy to find

[92BMW318is]

Sorry charging issue was resolved here http://www.m42club.com/forums/showthread.php?p=104828#post104828