Took the ole gal to the shop to be fitted with new rubber today and went for the locking bolt tool in the kit under the front bonnet, only the mechanical latch release wouldn't budge (and neither would the rear trunk release). Very odd indeed since all other electrical, ignition, alarm was working fine. I checked the fuses and all were fine too. Took the car home to search the internet on how to access the emergency release cable under the front wheel cover, but of course, that involves removing the front wheels, which requires the blasted tool! Anyway, I went down to the car with a plastic spatula and some wooden paint stirrers, and decided to try the levers one more time...<<PING>> the hood releases no prob.

Does anyone have any ideas on what the problem was? Security/Alarm system related? It has been humid and rainy here for a few hours...moisture related?

 

I just had this exact problem happen to me a couple of days ago with my 986. I'm also wondering what the culprit could be.

 

on your fuse box there is a picture of the bonnet and battery you pull this and it comes out about a inch, this is the override for the bonnet, you put power to this and then earth somewhere else, using jump pack or jump leads as soon as u touch it on it pops hood, this happened to me, you will see a pic on your fuse box in foot well and how to do it,

 

Thanks for that; I had researched a variety of sneaky ways to unlatch the front, including an indignified spatula method, however to my great relief the problem had resolved itself after a sit. I'm just wondering if this is a Gremlin anyone else had experienced, or whether I'm just unlucky!

 

Totally old school but if the switches got wet from rain/humidity you could try wd40 it's advertised to help displace moisture form electircal parts. It's worked on my tractor. I dont think it woulde hurt anything.