Active Hood Fault Diagnosis

Active hood fault, eh? Sounds familiar! Had a similar gremlin with my Volvo a while back. Airbag light, error messages... the whole shebang. Was pulling my hair out trying to figure out what was going on. Did you check the wiring harness to the acceleration sensors? Those things can be surprisingly fragile, and a break in the circuit can trigger all sorts of phantom errors. Also, have you tried clearing the error memory after checking the connections? Sometimes, a simple reset can do the trick. Is the hood latch working correctly?

Wiring harness and clearing the error memory, you say? Where exactly are these acceleration sensors located? And how do you clear the error memory?

Right, the acceleration sensors are usually located near the front of the car, often near the impact zones. Consult your car's repair manual for the exact location. Clearing the error memory typically requires an OBDII scanner. You plug it into the diagnostic port, read the error codes, and then use the scanner's software to clear them. However, if the fault is still present, the error code will likely reappear immediately. Considering your symptoms and the triggered actuators, it really does sound like a faulty sensor. Given the car safety implications with the crash detection system, and the pedestrian safety aspect of the active hood, I would suggest that a workshop replaces the acceleration sensor.

Thank you for the insights. I had the acceleration sensor replaced and that resolved the active hood fault. The cost was indeed around 315€, as initially estimated.