Well, now I'm a member of the BHL club. Here is my problem. I got the side panel off and pulled the cable with a pair of vice grips and got the hood open. I put white grease on it and it's a little better, but still very hard to pull. I tried adjusting the latch by taking off the twist preventer and unscrewing it on rotation, but no luck.

Anyway, when I put the cable end back into the little hole in the plastic handle and then run the cable back to where I can push the recess in the white tip back into it's receiving hole the angle is such that when I pull the lever the white tip just pops out of the metal holder. I'm wondering, am I missing something here? Did a part that hold this together break off? It's just not a straight pull.

 

Well, as to the difficulty pulling it that was solved when I noticed there are TWO latches. DUH! Some white grease and it moves pretty smooth.

As for the cable pulling out of the holder, I put a wire tie around it and that combined with the lub makes it all work fine.

 

Those cables can get pretty hard to move, especially is they are rusted in the cable. Sorry, just saw your post and could have helped you out.

#11 is the rear section that goes to the latch number 12 and number 8 has two cables that go to each front latch.



If you still need the part to replace it we do have the kit and individuals.

Thanks

 

Thanks, but I have it going well right now. This was the issue:

https://www.dropbox.com/s/c1rfdt6pp8...2010.35.28.jpg

That little white tip would pull out of the metal bracket:

https://www.dropbox.com/s/gldsux5jd2...2010.32.35.jpg

When you pulled the handle. So ran a wire tie through the little hole just below it and around the top of the cable and that holds it in. Combined with the lube it works great.

But, thank you for the comment nonetheless.

 

Your unlocking handle base metal notch looks bent. It happens on the first gen and second gen , when there is rusted cables and you pull the handle hard to unlatch the hood, it bend the tab area. And then the cable pops out of the notch, should be flush and straight.



See the little U notch , should be straight like that. Part number 51237149591


http://www.ecstuning.com/Search/SiteSearch/51237149591/ES91712/



Thanks and you are welcome for the help.

 

It always blows my mind that right when I have a problem, I find that there are a few others that have the exact same issue almost simultaneously. The help above was invaluable. I would just add a couple of things:
1. It is easier to pull the release wire with a vise grips if you detach it from the actual handle.
2. I found it easier to pull the still rusted cable using a vise grips on the end of the cable and a pair of channel locks in front of the white tip. You just have to be careful not to clamp the cable with the channel locks.
3. I greased the cable at both latches under the hood and the junction block where it comes out of the firewall on the engine side. I just used Red Line bearing grease as it was all I had at the time. I figure that will do the trick.
4. This will now be a part of my regular maintenance routine (maybe once or twice a year). My car has over 110K and 4 years into it. Little crap like this can be a big PITA especially when the fix is so simple.