My engine lid is stuck

racerdoc911 · racerdoc911's Garage

I have thoroughly read all of the threads on the stuck engine lids, tried all of the suggestions that didn't involve drilling and none worked. So... I am planning on replacing my decklid with a different one that has a spoiler, so I dont have a problem with drilling through the existing one. My question is, could someone give me and idea of the best place on the lid to drill so I can get to the latch and unbolt it? I would prefer not to tear the entire lid apart so it could be fixed and used as a spare. Thanks all.

no substitute · 12-10-2004, 06:17 PM

May I assume you pulled the cable T handle and lifted the lid at the same time?

Joe Bob · Joe Bob's Garage

If you have someone pull up on the lid and lay on your back....you can slip a ten mm open ended wrench in and loosen the latch.

racerdoc911 · racerdoc911's Garage

thanks mike, i will try that.

racerdoc911 · racerdoc911's Garage

tried the 10mm wrench, cant get it in there to get to the bolts, angle is all wrong. HELP!!!!!!!!!

cnielsen · 12-11-2004, 12:38 PM

Try pushing the bottom of the deck lid towards the front of the car while pulling up near the latch. Just pulling up on the decklid will not usually do it...it requires some funky side to side and up and down movements but it will usually free itself...right before you are ready to give up. Someone else will need to pull the T handle at the same time. If nothing else, I would go through your grill rather than through the decklid. At least you don't have to paint the grill to fix it and you could probably find a cheap one on eBay.

I have leaned my lesson here. Whenever I am readjusting the front or rear latches I always leave the grill off the rear or the bumper off the front so I can get to the latch and set it free if it becomes stuck.

Good luck

no substitute · 12-11-2004, 05:09 PM

The double pull technique cnielsen describes is how I open mine. I have long arms and can reach both points at the same time, and thus pull in the same approximate directions mentioned. Don't know if this was among the old posts you read.

racerdoc911 · racerdoc911's Garage

I have tried pullin, pushing, slamming, tweaking. you name it, i have tried it. nothing seems to work. Since Iam am replacing the decklid anyway i figured i would drill a couple of holes above the latch and unbolt it. I cant go through the grill as the a/c condenser is there.

R. Aster · 12-13-2004, 05:51 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by mikez
If you have someone pull up on the lid and lay on your back....

I tried this. The 'someone' I chose was quite heavy and my back hurt afterwards. Lid is still stuck, but I made a new friend...

Neilk · 12-13-2004, 06:57 AM

Try twisting the T handle several times and then pull. Twisting the handle might shorten the cable enough to pop the lid when you pull it.

greglepore · 12-13-2004, 07:03 AM

DO NOT drill thru the lid. Worse case, if other methods fail (they did for me), remove bumper and valence (yes, this is a pain, but only about an hour or so) and use a small hole saw to cut thru the panel directly below the latch. It has a second layer, and will require some patience. Once thru, you can pry on the point of the plunger with a long screwdriver while someone pulls on the t. It'll pop open.

ChrisM911SC · 12-13-2004, 07:33 AM

I was able to open mine by pulling the release cable all the way out and twisting it a bit. I then put a pair of vice grips on the cable to hold the cable all the way open. Then by moving the deck lid side to side and pulling up at the same time it opened. Good luck

Hugh R · 02:40 PM

I thought that you could unscrew the t-handle and the cable would loosen and the latch would open up. On my 84 this does not seem to be the case. The guy I just bought my Carrera tail from told me it look like the cable was installed wrong. Does anyone have a picture of how the cable should be attached to the latch. I can get my deck lid open, but I'm adjusting the fit and the last thing I want to do is not be able to open it.

Porsche · Porsche's Garage

Mate, don't drill your deck lid - you can still sell it or keep it for later.

Zeke · 11-25-2005, 04:21 PM

The cable may have slipped and is not pulling the release open enough. This is why you can remove the t handle and the release will open by default. Then, do the various wiggles and twists to get the plunger out of the holder. As others have said before me, also try this while parked across a driveway approach torquing the chasiss first left, then right. It will eventaully open when you hit the right combination.

Most of the time, due to the way most seem to think the plunger should be aligned, they have to be pulled back and down, and wiggled at the same time.