hood wont open

[clindayag1]

i just got a new hood for my car. my last one was in bad shape. so, i put on the new one and couldn't get it to close. after a few adjustments i finally got it to close, but now i cant get it open. i think it has something to do with the cable. is there any way i can remove my hood and start all over?

[zKars]

The most common issue is the cable breaks, in which case you will be lying under the car, reaching up into the latch mechanism with a "tool" to manually release it. No fun.

Now since your latch is just stuck, probably just barely mis-aligned, you have a couple of options.

First, have a friend push down hard and maybe bounce on the hood right above the latch while you yank the release handle. The intention is to get movement that will release it.

Ever had the grill off of the car in front? If not, those 5 phillips head bolts may not be easy to remove (assuming that's a 240 in your picture there). Try anyway.

If they come out, take it off or loosen the bolts that hold the hood to the hinges (not the hinges to the body), which may give the hood a little wiggle room so that you will be able to push/pull/wiggle the hood and pull the release handle and get it to open. Maybe you can get to them from under the air damn/valance without removing the hood. Darn tough either way.

Other than that, pull as hard as you can on the release handle. Try a good fast hard yank, rather than a steady hard pull. Then get mad and really pull hard.

When that cable breaks, get under the car with a "tool', and start pushing probing, and cursin.. and prayin.. Jack up the car safely and get some room.

Good luck.

Jim

[Ttiger]

I've been there!

Do what Z137 says, remove the grill and loosen the hinge bolts, it worked like a charm for me!

[beandip]

In hind sight. What I did was to use a length of stainless wire, bought it at a fishing tackle shop, and connected it to the latch under the hood, and ran it into to the cabin area by the steering post. I made a ''handle'' with a length of plastic tubeing and formed a loop. Now if the cable parts I can just reach under the dash and pull on my handle and pop the hood open and do the repair. the wire I used is what is sold for making fishing spinners.

[gnosez]

Beandip - your improvised cable release brought back memories of losing my throttle cable 30 miles from the nearest dirt road and using wire fishing leader and a tree branch as a handle. My wrist and hand were sore for days, but I got the truck home.

I really like your idea of a backup release cable and will be installing one next week.

[pjoe]

Just had to pop my hood yesterday after the cable broke. Took longer to get car on jackstands than to pop hood. I used about a 8 inch flat head screwdriver on the passenger side from under the car and stuck it in under the latch and pushed lever to open hood. Keep screwdriver parallel to hood and towards firewall inside the triangle sheet metal and push lever. I know thread is old but may help in future.

[MotoManMike]

Pjoe, I agree, I've never had the issue, but i'm glad I read because i'll know what to do when I do. Notice I say when

[Bonzi Lon]

The very first Z-Car thread I ever read was about a hood cable breaking with the hood closed, that scared me. Like beandip, I made a new redundant cable out of picture frame wire, attached to the release lever, over to near the booster then down to the frame rail. Earlier this year when opening the hood, the cable snapped. In less than a minute, I was on the floor unhooking the redundant cable, one small pull and the hood was open. Boy did that feel good!

Bonzi Lon

[Mikes Z car]

I have been leaving my hood unlatched until I get around to putting a backup release on. Thanks for the ideas on making a backup release.

[Datsun240Z71]

The very first Z-Car thread I ever read was about a hood cable breaking with the hood closed, that scared me. Like beandip, I made a new redundant cable out of picture frame wire, attached to the release lever, over to near the booster then down to the frame rail. Earlier this year when opening the hood, the cable snapped. In less than a minute, I was on the floor unhooking the redundant cable, one small pull and the hood was open. Boy did that feel good!

Bonzi Lon

I just finished doing that to my car about 30 minutes ago after reading your post this morning. Thanks for the great suggestion. Took about 20 minutes to do.

I have yet to have a problem, but having owned the car since 1987 and having never replaced the hood release cable, why not? Simple fix to avoid a potential problem.

[72 OJ]

Hey thanks for this eye opener, my hood cable is too tight and at times requires some creative moves to make it work. This will be the mod for this weekend , a back up cable, great idea/preventive solution

[Wade Nelson]

Sawzall works first time, every time!