Hood Stuck with a Twist - HELP!

[chevyaddict]

Hmmm... interesting thought. I'll have to check that out this evening. If that has happened then perhaps repulling the cable back out after doing that would completely unhitch the cable... at least that would identify why it wouldn't open!

 

[Tritium007]

Dawn,

There are several things that can cause the passenger side latch not to release. Although some of them still allow you to pull on the cable from the driver's side, the best approach is to use the access port in the top of the firewall on the passenger side. I don't have my car with me at the moment, so I don't know if the the wipers are in the way. My failure was due to the plastic tab on the driver's side of the crossover cable breaking off. The cable was still connected, but there was no anchor point for the cable sheath to allow the inner cable to slide (they both moved). Keep this in mind when you do install the new cable. Don't tighten that tab down too much or it will snap and leave you in the same situation. I was able to lift up slightly on the corner of the hood and pull on the cable to release the other latch, but I don't recommend that for two reasons. First, you don't want to snap the hood, and second, you can pull the plastic anchors at the center of the cable out of the distributor cover or even break them off. Using a small piece of metal rod, you should be able to push the rubber grommet out of the hole in the firewall. The rod only need reach in a few inches. It should be above the latch mechanism. By slightly pulling upward on the end of the rod, the other end should press down on the latch and release it. Be patient. Remember to sychronize your latches also when you install the new cable so that they release at about the same time. This should be done with the hood in the up position. I'll try and find some of the old threads on this. There is website that has some photos of this process.

Good Luck,
Mike

 

[jdp6000]

Dawn,

I just went and looked at mine. There are several parts to the system. One cable runs from the inside of the car to the driverside hing. Another cable runs from the driverside hing to the passengerside.Where exactly are you pulling the cable from with the pliers?

If the cable from the driverside to the passengersie is not broken it looks like it would be easier to hook onto it from the driverside.

The cable you are trying to crab through the access port is two inches above the hole. The connection point for the cable is two inces to the passengerside and about an inch up.A screw driver will not hit it. You need to get something in there bent at a 45 degree angle. You either need to grab the cable or the mechanism the cable attaches to.

The hing I think can be released by hitting the right spot with a screw driver.

Can you get a look at another Vette. so much easier to picture if youactually see the setup.

Jim

 

[Tritium007]

This is the link from the Mid-America website that may help.

http://www.madvet.com/shop?frame=1.264.3852

Mike

 

[jdp6000]

Excellent that the article I've been looking for. Thanks Mike. Dawn...see picture "D" thats the access port directly behind the hinge...using the screw driver go one inch in and push on the bottom of the latch.

Jim

 

[chevyaddict]

AH HA! That article is great....see, I was using what I could see on the driver's side thinking it was the exact same on the passenger side.... resulting in me sticking the screw driver in way too far! I believe that is the problem!

DRATS.... I'm at the University and can't check it!!!! I'll do it tonight and let you all know.... YOU GUYS ROCK!!!

 

[wishuwerehere82]

Good luck Dawn!

Waiting with baited breath.

 

[magoo]

Good luck Dawn. I'm waiting to hear how you make out. I've been following but had no wisdom to share. On my 68 I got to it through the fender louvers, but I don't think you can do that. Let us know...

Mike

 

[chevyaddict]

OK!!! Just got home and although it is late I'm gonna go try now!!!!! Wish me luck!

 

[chevyaddict]

Taaaaa Daaaaaaa!!!!!

Oh my goodness.... I feel like a total nincompoop now. It took all of like 2 minutes for me to get it popped open.... I remember last night in the 3rd hour of messing with it (with my aching brused arm from wedging it between the hood and windshield wiper) feeling that little lever but I thought it was something 'in the way'..... NOT! Press and click.

What happend was the little plastic clip broke on that side, just as suspected by someone who posted.

THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!!! I'll be ordering me a new one right now!

 

[Tritium007]

Good Show! Don't thank us. Thank the boys at the factory who thought to put those handy little holes in the firewall.

Mike

 

[jdp6000]

Hello Dawn,

Alright....success. I'm glad you got it. Just in time for the weekend. I had to do it once. No pictures in those days. It had to be one of the most frustrating problems I ever had.

Jim

 

[chevyaddict]

Hello Dawn,

Alright....success. I'm glad you got it. Just in time for the weekend. I had to do it once. No pictures in those days. It had to be one of the most frustrating problems I ever had.

Jim

Your not kidding! What was most disturbing was feeling that prospect creeping into my mind of having to cut the hood.... OUCH! I was actually have a visceral response when those thoughts popped into my mind. I'm so excited now I can't wait! Just have to bleed the brakes... then I'm putting a new control valve and hoses on the front to restore the power steering and SHE'LL BE ON THE ROAD!!!! A good bath for her (and me too after that) will be in order.

 

[Tritium007]

Hey Dawn,

This is another tech note from MAD website. It lays out a good adjustment and bleeding procedure following the control valve replacement.

http://www.madvet.com/shop?frame=1.264.3861

Mike

 

[chevyaddict]

Hey Dawn,

This is another tech note from MAD website. It lays out a good adjustment and bleeding procedure following the control valve replacement.

http://www.madvet.com/shop?frame=1.264.3861

Mike

EXCELLENT! Thank you!

 

[garycr14]

Thank goodness for this forum. I spent about 2 hours trying to figure out how to get to the latch to release it. I tried reaching under the hood with a long strip of thin wood, a wire, a bent piece of metal. Put the car up on the ramps, tried looking from underneath. Remove the fender side vent. Just when I was about to pull out my hair, I got smart and fire up the computer, and 5 minutes later (I'm a guy so it took me a couple of minutes longer to figure it out) the hood is up! My problem turned out to be the little plastic (why oh why does GM use plastic for this type of application?) clip near the driver side latch that holds the cable sleeve in place. I made a new clip using a piece of stainless from a household plumbing part, works great, and looks good too.

Thanks for your help. I have outlined the procedure for future use, as we all know this will happen to you some day.

 

[Mr. Chuck]

Had similar problem on my 81, where the passenger side wouldn't release when hood release inside was pulled. With the driver side of hood propted open with a block of wood, take care as not to put to much stress on the hood (a judgement call); took a wire coat hanger & fashioned a small diameter hook on one end, straightened the remainder with a closed loop handle on the other end. Was able to reach across to the passenger hood release assy and catch a hold of the cable connection point and release the hood. I got lucky and had the hood open in about 15 minutes. Good luck!!

 

[garycr14]

Procedure to open a passenger side stuck hood latch, model years 78-82.

Sorry, thought I posted this before:

Procedure to open a passenger side stuck hood latch, model years 78-82.

I wrote this little tidbit after scanning through the Corvette forums, trying to find out how to open the hood on my “81” when the right side hood latch wouldn’t release. Although this procedure only works on a few model years, it does come with the following message: Find out how to deal with the latch problem on your Corvette today, don’t wait until it breaks (which it eventually will) to figure out how to release the latch. Murphy’s Law say’s that you will find out about the problem when you urgently need to get under the hood, like when you know you’re a quart low on oil, or the engine is making a funny noise, and you’re running late to an event!

Necessary Tools for Procedure:
2 Cans of Beer – Your Choice
1 Stubby Screw Driver

Directions:
1) Open 1 can of beer, drink half the can.
2) Start engine.
3) Turn on windshield wipers – when the wipers are in the up position, turn engine off which should stop the wipers in the upright position, and out of your way.
4) From the wiper area, find the access plug. Push the access plug in towards the engine, do not worry, it will fall into a compartment so you can easily find it and replace when finished.
5) Drink the rest of the first can of beer.
6) Locate the release lever at the access hole. Using your stubby screwdriver, push downward on the lever. Walla! The hood should release.
7) Open and drink second can of beer.

This should take you about 5 minutes including getting the tools, unless of course you are out of beer, then you’ll need to add a trip to the store into the procedure outlined above. Again I would suggest to all of you who haven’t had this problem yet, regardless of model or year, go out to your car, open the hood, and visualize what you will need to do when it happens.

The following link should be of help to you.

http://www.madvet.com/shop?frame=1.264.3852