81 Hood will not unlatch-one side

[mikejpss]

My hood will unlatch on the drivers side, will not unlatch on the pass. side.
Know about the lil rubber plug and have puched it thru- question is: What next??? do I push a small blade screwdriver in, sideways, or what? anybody know?
Thanks for the help. Mike J.
:confused

 

[Yoda]

Mike,

Can you pry the drivers side up enough to use a long pair of pliers or channel locks to grab the cross cable? If you can you can pull on the cable to unlatch the passengers side :eek

Bud

 

[Chris Kennedy]

I had the same problem with mine about a month ago and prying up the driver's side and pulling on the cable was how I got the hood unlatched. You can actually pull the hood up a good bit----it will flex and it's a bit scary thinking you're going to break it, but you can actually get your hand in there. The cause of my problem was that a cable retainer broke, so much of the cable was now slack. I really had to pull the cable a great deal to get it unlatched. But if you can raise the hood just enough to get a pair of pliers in there (and there isn't much slack) that's the way to go. Once you do get it unlatched, replace the cross cable and also replace the cable from the "Hood Release" pull. Mid America makes a kit for the Hood Release cable which allows you just to replace the cable, and not the entire bracket. I think the cross cable is available thru Chevy (the one I used I ordered from a Corvette supplier). I wouldn't shut the hood again until you get all this replaced----it looks to me like there might be no way to reach the driver side latch from underneath the car. I am curious whether anyone knows what to do if, say, the cable were to break altogether? How do you open the hood?

--Chris Kennedy

 

[mikejpss]

Would it be too much to ask for someone to go pop your hood & take a close-up pick of both latching mechanism's- right and left? Would like to see a few pics before I take tools to the underside - going into the blind..........
I replaced the cross-over cable a few months back to prevent this from happening. Will post what I find when (and IF) I get it open. Thank you too much. Mike J.
:dance

 

[mikejpss]

GOT IT OPEN !!!!!!
Tried the suggestion of reaching for the crossover cable at the drivers side and pulling like hell. DID NOT open.
As mentioned yesterday, I removed the rubber plug in the vertical wall that allows access to the latch mechanism (pass. side) .
With a flashlight, was able to see a latch "end", and by simply applying pressure in a downward direction, the latch opened.
Once inside, I found that the new crossover cable (installed in July) plastic anchor end piece , passenger side, had split and released it's hold to the outer cable shield. There are 2 cable hold downs, one on each end of the cable shield. This problem was the pass. side end piece had split.

Hope this makes sense. Email me for more specific info.
Spoke to Laurie at "RIK'S UNLIMITED" , she's sending a new one thru the mail.
Now, my days off to a good start. Thanks for the help everyone.
Mike J.

 

[Chris Kennedy]

Good job! I know it's a huge relief, as I've been where you were. Glad to hear about the plastic plug on the passenger side----in case the cable goes on that side again, I guess THAT is how you can still reach the latch. COuld you provide a few more details on where it is located? The problem you had with the cable is the same one I had. There's a metal piece which goes around the plastic anchor, and if that is missing then the plastic anchor eventually breaks.

--Chris Kennedy

 

[mikejpss]

AAHHHH- HHAAAAA !!!!!!!!!
WHAT metal piece are you talkin 'bout ????
Mine did not have a metal piece around the plastic anchors (either end). This must be the reason the plastic anchor gave way. Must do some more research.....
Between the engine compartment and the wiper compartment there is a vertical dividing wall. Look on this wall from the wiper comp. side, near the rear of each latch and you'll find a rubber (ok, maybe plastic) knockout plug. This plug allows access to each latch in the event of trouble, i.e.- the cable breaks. Its really a good idea for all 81 owners to make a preventative inspection to find these plugs BEFORE your cable breaks..
Study it, make a drawing or video (best) for future reference, otherwise you'll go from memory like I did this morning.I have noticed recently that BEER does interfer with longterm memory cells....What were we talking about ????
Hope this helps. Mike J.

 

[Chris Kennedy]

Regarding the metal piece: The cable has a plastic fitting on the passenger side which is used to attach the cable on that side to the firewall area of the car. This plastic piece is molded permanently to the cable. Around this plastic piece, there is a separate metal collar. The screw goes through the collar and through the plastic piece. The purpose of the metal piece is (as we have both found out) to support the plastic piece, prevent it from being twisted as the cable is pulled, etc.-----in plain English to prevent the plastic piece from breaking and causing us all the hassle. This metal piece can be a bit of a hassle to get on the plastic piece, and I suspect that when previous cables have been installed by earlier owners they just didn't bother. If you haven't already done so, you need to re-contact your parts source and have them send you these metal pieces (I think there are two). COrvette Central also has them, and has by far the BEST pictures and schematics in their catalog of parts, generally. If you don't have their catalog, call them and get one: 1-800-345-4122.

Thanks for info on how to reach the passenger latch if all else fails---I will pass this on.

--Chris Kennedy