help hood stuck!!!

goldsc78258 · 06-26-2006, 02:03 PM

I was adjusting the hood on my car, and while doing the adjustments one of those times I couldn't open it back up.

Has this happen to you before? what can I do? is there a way to reach in there? the car has just been painted and don't want to go prying and chiping paint. Please help

Thanks

rusnak · 06-26-2006, 02:28 PM

You didn't say whether it's just "painted shut" with the soft paint, or if your hood release has let go and you can't open the latch. Is it a latch issue, or do you need to use a giant spatula to just pry it open?

goldsc78258 · 06-26-2006, 03:44 PM

it is not painted shut we let the paint cure for a week and the we blocked it and buffed it. so it is stuck on the latch I think it is binding on one side or the other and it would let the latch release. but I don't have a way to move it arround enough to make it release with out prying on the sides.

Thanks

pmajka · 06-26-2006, 04:22 PM

press down on the hood while some one pulls the cable, then lift while they are still pulling the cable

rusnak · 06-26-2006, 04:33 PM

Pmajka has the ticket. Under the heading "check for the obvious" also make sure that you didn't inadvertently lock the hood mechanism handle (it is keyed to be locked).

Zeke · 06-26-2006, 04:49 PM

And, as I always post on these threads, it sometimes helps to drive across a slope at an angle to twist the car. Both angles. Depends on whether you are out of whack side to side or front to back on the adjustment.

Tip: Watch the plunger from a side view as it enters the receiver. You will then see why you don't adjust the plunger to go into the receiver dead center. Rather, you would ideally adjust the plunger a bit forward of dead center.

goldsc78258 · 06-26-2006, 05:09 PM

Milt I think I'm out of adjustment side to side because the hood closed is not perfectly in the middle. I try the slope thing and use your tip for the next adjustment.

I have tried moving it side to side and up and down with somebody pulling on the handle but to no avail, I guess I'll just keep trying.

RoninLB · 06-26-2006, 07:37 PM

Bentley has specs for drilling a hole in ft bulkhead under fender so you can insert to free it. They even show the rubber plug for later.

pmajka · 06-27-2006, 03:33 AM

Dija get er up?

I mean, were you able to open the Hood?

goldsc78258 · 06-27-2006, 04:26 AM

Not yet I have been trying for a couple of days now

wcc · 06-27-2006, 04:31 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by pmajka
press down on the hood while some one pulls the cable, then lift while they are still pulling the cable

+1 This should work unless the cable is broken.

Paulporsche · 06-27-2006, 09:43 AM

If the handle returns all the way to the door post, try this:

Pull the handle all the way out. Grab the exposed cable w/ a vice grips making sure the cable is not able to slip into the frame. Loosen the handle and reset it, farther back from where it was. Remove the vice grips. Push the handle forward. Try opening the hood.

Let me know if this works.

mschuep · 06-27-2006, 10:21 AM

Were you just adjusting the hood lock assembly that is inside the trunk, or did you also loosen the latch plate bolts on the underside of the hood during your adjustment?

If the latch plate bolts on the hood are loose, you may need to have someone pull the hood upward while you pull the trunk release cable...I know you said you tried moving it all around, but I'm trying to guess what else could have gone wrong here. In this case, I wouldn't expect much tension at all on the cable.

goldsc78258 · 06-27-2006, 10:28 AM

Paul It is actually the front hood, I don't know if this would work on that one. Matt the car was being put together after painting and what I do is I hold the handle open with some vice grips while I move the hood around and push, pull, side to side etc....

mschuep · 06-27-2006, 10:40 AM

can you feel tension on the cable? Do you think the latch is opening and closing? I think you have to drill the hole if your cable is broke, at least that is what factory manual says, and Bentley as mentioned earlier.

goldsc78258 · 10:48 AM

the cable is fine I just think the male part (of the latch that is) is way out of adjustment and is binding on the sides of the female part. I'm ready to take a torch to it and cut the front hood in half

Just kidding

mschuep · 06-27-2006, 10:51 AM

Well that's not too bad, sounds like you have the right idea, you should be able to pop it loose eventually. Any airspace at all? Maybe you could give it a shot of wd40 or similar lube?

goldsc78258 · 06-27-2006, 11:13 AM

No air space at all, it is very tight I'm thinking on going thru the side ,where the marker cable goes into the hood and maybe I coud pull the male part from there to either side and brake it loose, but I'll try that tomorow

rusnak · 06-27-2006, 11:37 AM

GoldSC, I'm trying to scan the Bentley manual (whatever you do, don't ever buy an HP computer, ever!). Let me know if you need it and I'll club my computer into submission for ya.

I understand that the cable is fine, the handle won't budge because the latch is jammed somehow. Basically I think you might want to remove the front bumber. The bolts are under the rubber strip. Then drill an access hole to try to pry the latch open. I can take a picture of the inside of my front trunk if you don't have a comparison car available.

CHILI · CHILI's Garage

Mine is stuck right now and I have the gas tank out. So, I can put my head in there altogether and it's still no help. It was suck once before, so I bounced on it while someone pulled (ALL the way out) on the release knob. That worked. But, I let it shut again like an idiot. I should have adjusted it first.

No help I know. But at least you know it's not easy even with the tank out. And for moral support, I'm in this together with ya! Hahahhaha