2006 Boxster manual hood release cable missing?

badzerg · 06-20-2025, 02:06 PM

Hi all,
i've got a dead 2006 boxster in my garage, and trying to pop the hood to swap the battery. Tried the fuse box in the cab with no luck (this method had worked on this car in the past ~4 yrs ago, but not today). Popped up the car on a jack and pulled the wheel well cover a way a bit to peak inside and i was not happy with what i saw:

We're looking into the wheel well on the US driver's side front wheel. I can't properly pull the cover off, because i can't access the hood to get the locking nut from tire swap kit, so the view is pretty poor. From what i've seen in other peoples views of this, there should be a small cable coming out of this rubber gasket? there is nothing coming out here, and i don't feel a wire inside when i squeeze the gasket. i tried to look into the passenger side front wheel well to see if maybe it was on that side, but i don't have enough room in the garage to get a good look.
Any advice on what i should do here?

CarGuyNeil · 06-20-2025, 03:51 PM

Try looking under the front of the car under where the latch is and see if you can see the wire cable. Needle nose pliers may help pull it if you can locate it.

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badzerg · 06-20-2025, 05:01 PM

Hmm, i took a look under the front, and i didn't see any access panels that would be possible for me to remove where i suspect a cable may have fallen.
However, I managed to manhandle the plastic shroud cover out of the way with the wheel still on so i can get a better look. I removed the rubber gasket in the hopes that i could see the wire dangling back.

i don't have a good angle to visually confirm the wire. I made a little hook with a metal wire and went fishing in there. i could feel wires back there, but they were firmly attached to stuff. i couldn't feel any loose wire... unless it's so light weight i couldn't even notice it

badzerg · 06-20-2025, 08:35 PM

I never could find the pull cable, but since I certainly needed a new battery, decided I'll just go pick one up and try to power up the fuse box with it instead of my trickle/boost charger. restored the cab power immediately and popped the hood no problem. So if anyone is reading this in 10 years, try a different battery/ don't use a trickle charger on the fuse box.

CarGuyNeil · 06-21-2025, 04:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by badzerg

I never could find the pull cable, but since I certainly needed a new battery, decided I'll just go pick one up and try to power up the fuse box with it instead of my trickle/boost charger. restored the cab power immediately and popped the hood no problem. So if anyone is reading this in 10 years, try a different battery/ don't use a trickle charger on the fuse box.

I use a jumper box and it works perfectly. At least the battery trick worked so good on you! SUCCESS!!

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tcora · tcora's Garage

Quote:

Originally Posted by badzerg

I never could find the pull cable, but since I certainly needed a new battery, decided I'll just go pick one up and try to power up the fuse box with it instead of my trickle/boost charger. restored the cab power immediately and popped the hood no problem. So if anyone is reading this in 10 years, try a different battery/ don't use a trickle charger on the fuse box.

Oh, my. Yes. The power to the fuse box needs to be from something more than a trickle charger. A vehicle battery is best (I’ve used my BMW motorcycle and MC jumper cables to do the job). A jump box will be hit or miss - sone folks have reported success, some, like you, not so much.

Glad you got it open. Now, go find that emergency release cable!