[wildcat]

Most people probably know about the "secret" trunk release (which makes sense as its electrically operated) but what about the "secret" hood release is and why it exists?.

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[Langley968]

Ok - I'm puzzled... And waiting for more info...

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[SILVY968]

Inside the body section of the drivers door there is an oval black plastic vent grill.

If the car in unmolested, there is a small 'U' clip attached to one of the horizontal slots on the grill.

Pull the clip toward you.

You will find a metal cable attached.

Pull to release the trunk.

If there is no clip, pull out the plastic grill and look for the pull wire.

Brian

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[ampegboy1]

Most people probably know about the "secret" trunk release (which makes sense as its electrically operated) but what about the "secret" hood release is and why it exists?.

 

There's supposed to be an emergency release for the bonnet/engine lid behind the indicators/auxiliary lamps in the front bumper (the parts catalogue shows it heading for the left-hand side). As for why, it's always good to have a backup

 

Michael

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[type968]

Well, I have seen mine, when changing the starter.

 

As for why, on my car at least, the doors are purely electric, and if I lose power, I have no way to open the doors and pop the hood/bonnet to get to the battery to charge.  The key only turns to hit a micro switch.

 

From what I have read this is true on all cars, but some have claimed no, all cars are supposed to work manually, just turn the key a little farther.  Confirmed that it does not do that on my car as I had to do door repair, and there is nothing in my car that I saw to indicate it would work manual.

 

I actually just leave a 12v dongle for a charger threaded outside the hood, mounted on the battery shield below the wiper.

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[Carl968]

I believe the hood release is behind a door/panel in the forward part of the driver side wheel well. Mine is.
Carl

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[JTP]

Well, I have seen mine, when changing the starter.

 

As for why, on my car at least, the doors are purely electric, and if I lose power, I have no way to open the doors and pop the hood/bonnet to get to the battery to charge.  The key only turns to hit a micro switch.

 

From what I have read this is true on all cars, but some have claimed no, all cars are supposed to work manually, just turn the key a little farther.  Confirmed that it does not do that on my car as I had to do door repair, and there is nothing in my car that I saw to indicate it would work manual.

 

I actually just leave a 12v dongle for a charger threaded outside the hood, mounted on the battery shield below the wiper.

That is odd. I regularly disconnect the battery when o go on travel and I can manually lock/unlock the doors with the key similarly to my 944.

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[flash]

correct.  you have to rotate the key beyond the normal position, but it will unlock and lock without power.  it's in the owner's manual

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[wildcat]

Seems to me that's correct.  I did have a problem with my trunk key not working when the battery was disconnected but no problem with the doors. Which again begs the question why the extra hood release.  I think I'll take mine out as I consider it a liability - not like I have a supercharger or anything but as a precaution.  Thanks all for the input.

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[type968]

Must be my car, can you say 

 

correct.  you have to rotate the key beyond the normal position, but it will unlock and lock without power.  it's in the owner's manual

What page?  In my manual I can only find 2 sections, pages 12-15 and page 90 (wheel locks)  Trying to understand what is broken on both my doors, as I would like to fix this.

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[type968]

For all of you that say yours open with turning the key extra, what year is your car?

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[JTP]

Mine is 1994. Battery disconnected and key turns locks on both doors.

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[flash]

funny - i can't find it now either

 

because mine has power, and i don't want to disconnect it, i can't do it, and then tell you how it is different, but as i remember, it just had resistance that had to be overcome.

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[type968]

It must be something than breaks on 944 and 968s, since most of the complaints I see are from people with 944s.

 

When I first read about it I tried it on mine, no go, and didnt want to snap the key off in the door, I imagine the resistance would be very little.

 

How may degrees do you have to turn to do it manually?  If the key slot is horizontal, what angle or degree does it end up in?  If I can turn mine all the way to that, I know it is not jamb'd and something is just broken on both my doors.

Mine is 1994. Battery disconnected and key turns locks on both doors.

Thanks, blows that theory it is an early car thing vs 94/95.

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[JTP]

I'll check tomorrow on how much to turn. There is definitely a resistance you have to overcome to turn the lock when no power.

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[type968]

I'll check tomorrow on how much to turn. There is definitely a resistance you have to overcome to turn the lock when no power.

Great!  I appreciate it.

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[wildcat]

I've got a '93, I had to replace the lever in the door handle as it broke off.  So I've been in there.  I've had the batter disconnected a variety of times and the doors unlock without any real difference. There is a solenoid that when powered feels a little different, but other than that its like turning a key in any lock. I've used the cable in the door to unlock the trunk when the battery ran down but first had to get into the car which was locked.

 

BTW its an easy thing to disconnect the second hood release.  They're both tied to the same lever much like a brake cable on a bicycle. 

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