# Popping the hod **URL:** \ **Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\ **Tags:** audi, a4\ **Created:** [November 2, 2009, 5:34pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/popping-the-hod/38952 "2009-11-02T17:34:13Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 11\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![emcpgy2472](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/c37758/32.png) [@emcpgy2472](https://community.cartalk.com/u/emcpgy2472)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2009, 5:34pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/popping-the-hod/38952/1 "2009-11-02T17:34:13Z")
I have an Audi A4 quattro, the batter recently died and now I can’t get the hood to open. I’ve gone through the manuel but and it has no info on how to get it open. Please help. ---
**Author:** ![bennyandthejets](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/b487fb/32.png) [@bennyandthejets](https://community.cartalk.com/u/bennyandthejets)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2009, 7:15pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/popping-the-hod/38952/2 "2009-11-02T19:15:04Z")
I know nothing about the Audi A4 (nor care to) but I can’t believe a simple google search for opening hood, raising hood, releasing hood mechanism etc along with your make/model doesn’t turn up something. While this is a technical website, I"m betting most who would reply to your post will do the exact same thing. ---
**Author:** ![Docnick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ecae2f/32.png) [@Docnick](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Docnick)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2009, 8:04pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/popping-the-hod/38952/3 "2009-11-02T20:04:44Z")
Please read your owner’s manual again. I can’t believe a GERMAN car manufacturere does not at least have a PICTURE of the dash and what all those knobs are for. Once you find the knob, there may not be instructions on how to pull it. But just pull it anyway. Then there will be a safety catch that you will be able to locate just by feeling under the hood. ---
**Author:** ![Triedaq](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/65b543/32.png) [@Triedaq](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Triedaq)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2009, 10:11pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/popping-the-hod/38952/4 "2009-11-02T22:11:44Z")
Is there a tag on the hood that says “Do Not Open. No User Serviceable Parts Inside?” If not, the car has a hood release. A friend of mine owned a 1997 Cadillac and we needed to open the hood. I had to search quite a while to find the safety catch on the outside, but I did find it. ---
**Author:** ![EllyEllis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/f14d63/32.png) [@EllyEllis](https://community.cartalk.com/u/EllyEllis)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2009, 12:59am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/popping-the-hod/38952/5 "2009-11-03T00:59:07Z")
Have you found the hood realease and it just won’t open or can you not find the realease? ---
**Author:** ![oldtimer-11](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/e79b87/32.png) [@oldtimer-11](https://community.cartalk.com/u/oldtimer-11)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2009, 10:55am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/popping-the-hod/38952/6 "2009-11-03T10:55:09Z")
If you are pulling on the hood release and the hood won’t open, have someone press down on the hood briefly while you are pulling on the release. If you get it open, use a spray lubricant on the cable and release mechanism and keep pulling the release to free everything before you close the hood. ---
**Author:** ![hellokit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/6a8cbe/32.png) [@hellokit](https://community.cartalk.com/u/hellokit)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2009, 11:57am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/popping-the-hod/38952/7 "2009-11-03T11:57:08Z")
``` Try this solution from fixya: http://www.fixya.com/cars/t2223945-broken_hood_release_cable_need ``` ---
**Author:** ![emcpgy2472](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/c37758/32.png) [@emcpgy2472](https://community.cartalk.com/u/emcpgy2472)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2009, 4:56pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/popping-the-hod/38952/8 "2009-11-04T16:56:01Z")
Figured it out. The primary level was hidden and the secondary lever also hidden. Thanks for all the suggestions. ---
**Author:** ![EllyEllis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/f14d63/32.png) [@EllyEllis](https://community.cartalk.com/u/EllyEllis)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2009, 8:16pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/popping-the-hod/38952/9 "2009-11-04T20:16:02Z")
How long have you had this car without opening the hood?? I usually check under the hood at least twice a year!!! ---
**Author:** ![BustedKnuckles](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/bustedknuckles/32/25_2.png) [@BustedKnuckles](https://community.cartalk.com/u/BustedKnuckles)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2009, 12:12am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/popping-the-hod/38952/10 "2009-11-05T00:12:13Z")
Twice a year? I check twice a month, every full tank of gas. The reservoirs are all translucent plastic, so I only need to check the dipsticks for oil and transmission. ---
**Author:** ![EllyEllis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/f14d63/32.png) [@EllyEllis](https://community.cartalk.com/u/EllyEllis)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2009, 4:08pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/popping-the-hod/38952/11 "2009-11-05T16:08:14Z")
bustedknuckles, I was joking about the “twice a year” check!! I still wonder how long OP has been driving this car.