W209 CLK - Can't open bonnet/hood as release cable has broken or disconnected itself

[davidwilson]

Help please!
2003 CLK (W209) . The bonnet release lever under the steering wheel is just flapping uselessly . the cable is still attached at the cockpit end, but about 8ins of the cable comes out then it jams without doing anything. I assume that either the cable has broken, or (more likely given the jamming) the fitting on the bonnet end of the cable has become detached from the catch. Predictably, the bonnet is very solidly shut, and I can see no way of getting up inside to release the catch(es) .
Anybody got any clues?
Cheers
David

 

[AMGeed]

CLK should be similar to this 211 video. There is a latch to release on each side.

You Tube is a good source of How To videos if you get stuck and there is more than one showing how to gain access to the engine bay with a broken latch.

 

[davidwilson]

Thank you for that!
Grovelled about underneath, took off the undertray and could then poke the latch open with a long bit of rod.
(Turned out that the cable from the catch under the dash runs to a sort of junction block about 8ins back from the driver's side latch. Then it has 2 cables - one going to each latch. The block had turned a bit sideways allowing the nipple on the first cable to pop out of its slot )
Why didn't Mercedes ever do anything the easy way!