02 986 How To Open Front Trunk With Dead Battery No Emergency cable & Broken latch ?

[volk986]

I new this day would finally come.. I have had a intermittent problem with the front hood latch for some time but most recently the latch would not work at all now the battery is dead to make matters worse. I have removed both right and left inner wheel well and looked in all the normal and not so normal places for the emergency release cable but have not been able to locate. I have spent much time researching this problem but at this moment have no good answers or information how to resolve this problem. My next move might be to some how try to jimmy the front latch with a Slim Jim or cut the latch..
Any help would be greatly appreciated !!

[ccjazz]

Don't know how long yo have owned the car but it is possible that a previous owner has already moved the cable.

Have you looked behind the tow hook cover on the front bumper? Long shot but it might be there...

[tommy583]

You could also try removing or pulling down the plastic on the bottom of the car in between the wheels. That is where I found my emergency release cable.

[jcslocum]

It's being the headlight area on the passenger side. It's probably filthy and not really visible. I can take a pic if that helps.

[volk986]

Thank you for your reply! I have had the car 2.5 years with two prior owners

[volk986]

Are you referring to the plastic inner wheel wells ?

[volk986]

Thank you for your help in advance.. A photo would be of great help...

[volk986]

Yes I have looked there hoping that it had be relocated there...

[tommy583]

I was talking about in the middle, right under the bumper cover.

[volk986]

I will look there...

[volk986]

Did not see it there (((

[jcslocum]

Originally Posted by volk986

Thank you for your help in advance.. A photo would be of great help...

This is inside the passenger side inner fender, USA model.

It will behind the inner fender plastic:

That big plastic thing is the back of the headlight housing.

[Original Bacon]

Have you tried the method by taking jumper cables and connecting it to the battery you have? I took the battery out of the car, hooked on positive and negative jumper cables to the battery, and hooked the positive cable to the RED latch in the fuse box that comes out when you pull it (It's red and gold) I hooked the negative to the metal hook in the door for the ground. Surprisingly it didn't have enough juice to turn the car on, but it did allow me to pop the front trunk open using this.

[volk986]

Thank you!! I will look there and report my findings !

[volk986]

The trunk latch does not function, so even if I had a good battery it would not open..

[Santafe]

I had real trouble locating mine, couldn't believe it , but on the 3rd desperate attempt I checked the RH ( your passenger side ) headlamp once more & there it was tucked way underneath, it's only a very fine silver colored wire cord with a loop at one end big enough to place your finger through & give it a firm tug.
Word of Warning..if you do locate it , wear a leather glove or thread some heavier cord through the loop in order to protect your finger.

Good Luck.

[tommy583]

It could be hiding on top of the radiator ducting. You might not be able to see it as it is thin. Keep reaching around for it in the places that have been suggested, hopefully you will find it.

[Mark_T]

Universal broken latch bypass tool. Make sure you get the metric one.

[itsnotanova]

I had one car come in where I couldn't locate the loop on the end of the cable even after removing the wheel liner. I had to flash a light up under the headlight area just to see a small section of the cable towards the front of the car. I used a coat hanger to reach the cable and it opened right up for me. It's the only metal cable up there

[volk986]

After much looking everywhere... No cable found. How to open without cable ?? Cut the latch ? and if this is my next option how to do so, without damage to hood.