Sticky Hood Latches

[vettedoc]

Anyone have any ideas on how to make the hood latches open better on my 1989 convertible? I have to open the latch under the dash and pull up on the drivers side of the hood to get it open about half the time. I already put some lithium grease on the posts and the ends of the release cables

 

[Redbob]

And proper striker/latch alignment.
Getting this right is especially important if the hood has been off for any reason, or if there's been ANY collision work on the front end.

And this is one REALLY frustrating, tedious, time-consuming job!
(Or I could be a complete maroon...)

- R

 

[Spiderman]

There are two pins on the inside of the hood. One is the pin with the spring on it that engages with the latch mechanism and the other is the guide pin. I recently had to have my guide pin adjusted because I was breaking hood cables due to to much resistence on the pin.

I was told that if by chance your hood has been closed by dropping it you can bend or move that pin enough to cause it to stick.

That could be the problem.

Spiderman

P.S. - All of the posts and sockets should always be greased as well.

 

[vigman]

I had the same deal

It took me about 30 min to re adjust the latches & pins..not a big deal.. now the hood release is an easy POP and no binding on the cable.


Vig!

 

[geofamy]

I found if you loosen up both hood pin plates,spray some WD under the plates to make sure they are free then close the hood very slowly one side at a time the hole catches will line up the pines for you. open the hood slowley and tighten before the plates move.

 

[hiroller]

If cable is broken, and you cannot get the left or right hood latch to release, you may use one of the aftermarket release tools to open the hood. IF THAT FAILS.... The bolts retaining the latch assy. can back-out with one of the bolts blocking the latch assy.
IF THAT HAPPENS..... Carefully measure the location of the latch pin from the opposite side, transferring the location to the top, and marking. Using a one inch hole saw, drill through the fiberglass hood exposing the threaded portion of the latch pin. Now center punch the pin, using a small drill drill down about one inch, continue increasing the size of the hole large enough to allow you to drive a square type ez-out into the pin. Rotate the pin clockwise until the pin is all the way out! The hood is now open, reinstall bolt, torque and adjust latch and install new release cables. Re-torque bolts often and lube latch assy. often.