2003 Porsche Boxster Secret Hood Release

'I've checked all over the internet'

May I request you to have a look again at these links?

How to open the hood on my 2003 Boxster.

Thanks. I've seen them all and I still can't find the cable pull. I did notice that some people say it is suppose to be on the right and some say left. I've seen photos of the right side for Boxster and left for 911.

I may have to pull the left wheel well cover and give it a shot.

Found this forum it has a little info.

Can you hear the latch servo working by using the fuse panel wire access?

In this forum there info on the electrical access and clearer info on the mechanical access.

Last one this forum has good info and pics. And some good hints and tricks also.

Hope these forums help.

Charles

Thanks Charles,

I've read these forums and I haven't found the secret cable. There is a hole in the metal behind the wheel well liner. There is a grommet, so it looks like a cable should come out, but nothing. I've see photos showing the cable on the right for Boxsters and left for 911's. I was hoping I could get someone who has actually done this for a 2003 Boxster.

Thank you.

Greg

It looks like a useful post for the OP. I hope it helps.....

Sadly, we all post badly with regard to the "sides" of a car. We should use "left & right" and not "driver & passenger" side.......Many forget that some car makers, especially over the last 20 years, mix and match and "sides"......that is they move some stuff around depending upon where the driver sits, and some stuff doesn't......no rhyme or reason....

I agree, right and left are a better way to communicate. For instance, in Japan, England, Australia (and maybe other British colonies), the steering wheel is on the right (wrong side to us in the US and most of Europe). The thing we all need to understand is that the side of the car is determined by facing the same direction the car drives. Someone posted that you sit in the car to determine right or left.

Thanks for the tip. I was not expecting it to be there. I'll take a look and hopefully get the hood open. Also, I was told the following: If you hear the actuator click, it may be a jammed latch. Try pushing down on the hood at the same time that someone hits the switch.

I'll let you know if I find the hook/release.

To open the hood some real Boxter fans put a blonde (mostly an articulated girl model) on the hood while pulling that pin.

My blonde is not allowed to sit on the hood!

I have spent the last 3 weekends searching for the elusive release cable in my 2001 Boxster S. After reading this post I decided to give it one more look. When I removed the splash guard on the right hand side I couldn't see the cable, but following closer inspection I saw that it was in the location shown in metalSmiths post. It was hard to see and get hold of as it was tucked in between the head light and the metal tray (cable to LHS of the black headlight housing). I removed the whole splash guard so I could get a better access. Didn't have to remove any grommets as discussed in some forums. I've also been told that if you have this problem in a 2.5/2.7 there is no radiator in the centre of the bumper and you might be able to get access to the mechanism from underneath.

Good deal, Glad you found it.

At least Porsche was smart to put in a manual release. Making it hard to find/reach is fair for theft prevention. Otherwise what's the use of locks?

I do Like CR4 for all the little things that I learn and helping others find the info to help them.

Charles

One of these should do it:

https://sites.google.com/site/mikefocke2/whenyourbatteryisdead

Mike's page is great. I've read all of these before, but he puts them all on one page. It looks like I'm going to have to take the left wheel well liner off and see if the cable is on that side.

I appreciate your help - Thank you.

Greg

Thanks for the tip. My car has a red pull out. I've tried this and it doesn't work. I think the alarm has locked things up. I've tried the trick to turn the alarm off and allow the pull out to work.

I called the Porsche dealer and they gave me a few things to try. Unfortunately, none worked. They recommended that I have it flat bedded it to the dealership. I cringe knowing that they wanted $721 to perform the initial service (at 15K miles) on the car.

Rennlist is a great source. I've also found Pelican to be another one.

The last time this happened, the alarm didn't set and the red pull out worked fine. A few years ago, I had a 996 and the pull out also worked. This one has definitely been a challenge.

Thanks for your help

Did the alarm sound when you connected the donor battery?

You may need to clear the alarm with the ket in the ignition first (insert and turn to the on position), then when that is cleared try the hood release.

Have you considered the switch may be bad or even the solenoid?

Have you tried the opening the other lid to see if that one works?

The alarm did go off when this originally happened. At that time, I was able to get enough charge on the battery via the lighter socket. I drove the car with a locked hood for about two years, but this time the battery is dead.

The rear trunk opens, however the front one won't. The red pull out on the fuse box doesn't work. I tested the switch and it's good. It may be the solenoid, but I can't get to it.

After pulling back the left front wheel well liner, I can see the place where the cable should come out of. There is a grommet there, but no cable. I thought the first owner may have moved it behind the towing eye cover. Not there either.

You would think that Porsche would have designed a fail safe, just in case the electric release doesn't work.

So, if you press the rear lid's button it will open?

That sounds like a failed solenoid or a wire connection failure.

There may be something else going on. I don't think it's the solenoid, because the electrical system in general is acting up. The power windows don't work and neither does the dome light. I was told that one of the fuses or a relay may be bad. The problem ... it's under the hood!

All these problems started when the battery died and the red pull out didn't work - about two years ago.

What does the local Porsche dealer say?

<Oops, I see AH has already mentioned calling the dealer>

Hi Lyn,

I tried all the things the Porsche dealer told me and none has worked. They told me to have the car flat bedded to them. My concern is that I've tried everything shy of pulling the left wheel well liner. I haven't done so, because the info I've received tells me that the release is on the right side for the Boxster and the left for the 911. At this point, I hope it's on the left side.

The other problem I have is that the wheel change kit is in the front. The wheel lock key is in the tool kit - my mistake. When I got the car, the key was in the center console. Now I know why they keep it there! Needless to say, I cannot remove the wheel, so it's tricky getting those clips off.

I'll let you guys know how it turns out.

Good luck!

Very good idea! Unfortunately, I don't know of one, but I bet they know how to do it!

Easier than that, just drive to your local police station and tell them you think there are drugs in the trunk. They will get it open.

Haha! Yeah, but the hood will be a chunk of cut up and twisted metal!

What is the color of the car? My friend isn't home now but he can tell you after Jan 2nd

when he comes back. He is a Fl. resident then.

My Boxster is Lapis Blue Metallic with a Light Gray Leather interior. I was trying to download a picture, but I can't get it to work.

If your friend can help, I'll be glad to wait until Jan 2nd. I'm pretty busy right now, so I don't think I'll get to it before then.

I appreciate your help! Thank you!!

Since it is an electric latch im assuming it is probably controlled by just a switch, if your comfortable enough with electronics, you could try to find a diagram online, pull the switch and try to power the solenoid directly, otherwise if the battery you used on the built in emergency release wasnt strong enough, it may simple have failed to fully disengage the hood release, also, the switch could be bad, but that seems very unlikely, you could try contacting a high end car stereo and electronics installer and find out if they have had to deal with a tripped alarm during an install that might have caused a similar problem, my brother has a 1964 vw beetle, show car, he has all electric access in it, doors front and rear hood, he has had to manually power the solenoid many times, just a thought

Kalboon,

Thanks for the tips. I removed the switch panel from the car (attached to the door sill on the drivers side) and I checked the switch. I ran a resistance test on both the front and back release switches and they both worked the same, so the switch isn't bad. I figured out the continuity and put 12v across the terminal and ground on the car. Nothing! I have a feeling there is a microprocessor which controls the power to the switch and solenoid.

I figure the only way to get this open is to cut the front bumper off (I don't want to do this), cut the hood off (no on this too), or find the hidden release cable. I'm hoping that someone who has found the release cable can give me some pointers on how to find it.

Thank you.

At this point you should probably wave the white flag and get it flat bedded to the dealer and get a new battery.

I replaced my battery myself, but ended up buying the OEM battery from my dealer. The price for the OEM was actually about $2 cheaper than a 3rd party battery from AutoZone. Your experience may vary.

Have the tech show you the procedure so you can DIY should there ever be a next time.

You may be right! I'm willing to give it one more try - I can pull back the wheel well cover on the right side and see if I can find the cable there.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ueTM60piA6k

Any help? youtube, the new google

HeHound,

Thanks for researching this for me. I've tried the red pull out thing and no click of the solenoid. I think I'm at the last step, where the manual hood release cable must be used. The only thing is that I can't find it. I've pulled the right front wheel well liner back and there is no cable. Just a hole with a rubber grommet - looks like a cable should come out of it, but there is none!

I'm hoping to find someone who has actually seen this cable and can give me advice on how to find it. I've also tried the hold where the towing eyelet goes and there is no cable there either.

Thank you again for trying to help.

Np, i will be in a city that has a vw/audi/Porsche dealership on the 26th, i'll ask about it for you, i know one of the mechanics from getting service on my old audi, he is probably willing to tell me, provided he is at work, good luck!

Thanks Kalboon! I appreciate it.

Here is a little common sense answer to your problem. Look on the internet for Porsche clubs. There are probably some close to you. The kind of person who joins a car club is usually the kind of person who would help you. Have a merry Christmas and don't use a can opener.

Thanks for the tips. I've tried the first one and no luck. I've also tried to find the cable release and I can't find it. I misread your item #2. I'll look for the cable under the right headlight. This could be a lifesaver for me.

Thanks you.

I just tried to do item #2 and no luck. When I shined a bright light under the headlight (between the headlight and the bumper), there was no cable or hook. I ran a bent coat hanger in there and nothing.

It gave me an idea. I pulled the towing eyelet cover off and ran the coat hanger up and down the bumper (maybe the previous owner had done the retrofit and the cable moved), but no luck.

Of all the answers to the problem, yours hit the nail right on the head. We can all get some sleep tonight because we no longer have to wonder how the gentleman will get his hood open. I told him there was a Porsche club member that would help him. I bet the you were one when you had your Porsche.

Thanks Byron. I like the common sense approach!

GA. Now we know where it is.

You really do not need to take the car that far apart. Read post #38 part 2.

With a hook, made of a metal wire cloth hanger it opens when you hook the end of the cable and pull from under the headlight.

And now it is no secret any more?

HeHound, Thank you for finding such a good picture of the cable. I saw this on the Pelican forum a while back and after speaking with some Porsche experts, they told me that this is the one for the 911 and the Boxster is on the right side.

I took their advice and I removed the clips holding the wheel well cover on the right side. When I peeled the cover back, I saw the grommet where the cable comes out, but no cable.

I was told that the repair manuals and TSB's for German cars are wrong. This is why I was hoping to find someone who had actually done it.

Thanks again for the info. I'm going to give the left side a shot. Wish me luck!

I have the same issue on my 2001 booster. Can’t find the cable. Did yours end up being on the left?

I had difficulty finding it too. It’s tucked up high behind the splash guard. I did it a couple of years ago and it should be on the same side that the towing eye is located in the front bumper (RHS Driverside on a UK car). I moved the cable to the towing eye afterwards so I could open the bonnet easily. Hope this helps

For my car, it was on the right side. I had to pull the right wheel well back, then I could see the cable. My problem was that the wheel lock key was in the front with the spare tire. So I couldn't remove the tire and I could only peel the wheel well back so far.

I finally found it!! I think previous owner possibly had used it and moved it. Could not find it under wheel well but found it from in front of head light. Pried it slightly to the side and was able to spot it and fish it out. I then replaced weak actuator under the hood and it works like new!

A weak actuator is a good thing. My car has a problem with the controller. No power gets to the latch, so I have to manually open it. At least I know where the cable is!

My car has the red pull out thing on the fuse box. It worked for a while, but something happened and it stopped working.

My 2001 911 had the red pull out thing too, but it still worked.

I think your 2001 Boxster should have the red pull out thing. When you pull it out, you can clamp +12V to it and pop the hood open.

Rennsport has a good write up on the hood pull issue.

If you're still having trouble, let me know and I'll see what I can find for you.

Sorry for your luck, buy American and at least you might be able to understand the operator's manual My sister has the same one and guess what??

If it were mine, I would call my local Porsche dealer and ask him.

He already tried that lol

Already did that and everything they told me to do, I had already tried.

How many times has an image of one of these crept into your thoughts?

Would give that beast of yours a beautifully aggressive patina once the job is done.

I have one additional suggestion to try. The people that repossess cars for a living are pretty sharp about how to get things to operate without damaging the merchandise. Try looking up a local repo agent and see what a road call will cost.

I remembered I left all of you hanging, regarding the hood problem on my Boxster.

I did wind up getting the hood open. The cable was on the right side, hidden just below the headlight assembly. I couldn't take the tire off, because the wheel lock key was under the hood with the rest of the tools. I took the clips off the wheel well and pulled the wheel well back. I got a better look at the headlight assembly and sure enough, I found the cable. Put a screwdriver in the loop of the cable, gave a sharp pull and voila!

I did wind up charging the battery - it took a charge and started the car. I moved the cable to the recommended spot, behind the bumper tow bolt cover.

I never did find the fuse to the front hood release, nor did I get the other quirky electronic problems to go away.

Many thanks