[W126 Coupe] Hood not latching!

[Dick Spellman]

Hi Habib:

Anyway, where both the side catches on the sedan are not working I would 
try the following.

Have an extra person pull on the under dash release while you observe 
the cable is moving the latch at each point.  If the cable appears to be 
good you have two things you can do.

First remove one of the hood latches from the hood and set it into the 
front frame latch firmly to see if it catches and releases as it 
should.  Do this on both sides.  If the catches work, you can try just 
lowering the frame rubber bumpers using a wrench to turn each stud 
clockwise.  Be careful not to put pressure on the rubber stop or you 
could tear this free.

Second, is to remove each of those catches (3) Phillips bolts from the 
top and un-hook the cable) and spray them up good with a solvent to 
remove all of the old grease, grit and gunk.  If you have access to a 
solvent tank that's even better.  Then apply new grease and re-install.  
With each unit out you can check the catch and release while in your 
hands.  Trying to spray them up good while on the car is messy, gets on 
your chrome and paint and does not thoroughly get at all the pivot 
points to remove the grit.  It's usually the grit that binds them up.

I've always had one fail at a time never two.

Good luck,

Dick

Habib Smith wrote:

> Today I pulled my '87 560 SEL out of storage and found the hood is not 
> latching shut. The little arm release towards the middle will hold it 
> down, but the 2 main latches on the sides will not. No matter how hard 
> or easy I slam it, it just pops back up. I made sure the 
> release handle by the kick panel was all the way forward, made no 
> difference. I also used a screw driver to see if the 2 main side 
> latches were moving properly, which they were, but during their 
> movement there was no sign or click of them staying in place, they 
> just pop back up as soon as I let go. Any idea what the issue is???
>
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