Help, I can't open the front hood

[chatas17]

I think the cable is stretched. It is a 1967 912. I can get it to release the latch. When I put my fingers in to pull the latch nothing happens for the second release. I just bought the car.... Thanks.

[Mitch Leland]

I'm not sure what you're saying, sounds like the cable is releasing the latch, but the lid still doesn't open. I'm sure you know there's a second safety latch hopefully within fingers reach of releasing the hood lid.

How about clarifying what is happening. I think either on this site or Bentleys they show how to release the hood latch if it's stuck. Have you tried a second person while one person pulls on the latch handle the other with the palms of his hand pushes in, side to side, etc. to see if you can find the sweet spot.

Hopefully someone with an early car will jump in and help... Do a search on this site for help.

[chatas17]

Originally Posted by Mitch Leland

I'm not sure what you're saying, sounds like the cable is releasing the latch, but the lid still doesn't open. I'm sure you know there's a second safety latch hopefully within fingers reach of releasing the hood lid.

How about clarifying what is happening. I think either on this site or Bentleys they show how to release the hood latch if it's stuck. Have you tried a second person while one person pulls on the latch handle the other with the palms of his hand pushes in, side to side, etc. to see if you can find the sweet spot.

Hopefully someone with an early car will jump in and help... Do a search on this site for help.

Yes, you are correct. The cable is releasing the hood latch but when I push the lever at the hood nothing happens. I did try the second person thing but no luck. Haven't found the sweet spot yet. Thanks for the reply. I'm searching now....

[Mitch Leland]

Jim,

Maybe it's time to see if you can get a small mirror on an extension with a light to illuminate the latch area to see what you have to do. It would seem like if you're this close you can get the latch to release. You might have to twist the hood one way or the other. There's a good chance that the two bolts that retain the latch have let it slip, it doesn't take much for it to get out of alignment.

[chatas17]

It seems as though the "pin with a spring" is caught. I think latch mechanism is not the problem but the receiver of the pin is getting caught. Can I loosen the two bolts on either side of the latch (at body) and try to adjust it's location in order to free up the latch?

[ossiblue]

If you can reach the bolts on the latch (receiver) with the hood in partial release, then loosening them enough to get the latch to move may do the trick if you know in which direction to move the latch. You may first try to loop a strong cord around the "pin with a spring" and tug on the cord away from the direction where the hang up appears to be. You may get enough flex in the pin to release it from the receiver.
What you are experiencing is not uncommon and when you finally release the hood take your time when you readjust the positon of the receiver--try to get the pin to hit dead center before you fasten everything down and close the hood.

[chatas17]

Originally Posted by ossiblue

If you can reach the bolts on the latch (receiver) with the hood in partial release, then loosening them enough to get the latch to move may do the trick if you know in which direction to move the latch. You may first try to loop a strong cord around the "pin with a spring" and tug on the cord away from the direction where the hang up appears to be. You may get enough flex in the pin to release it from the receiver.
What you are experiencing is not uncommon and when you finally release the hood take your time when you readjust the positon of the receiver--try to get the pin to hit dead center before you fasten everything down and close the hood.

Thanks L.J. I will give it a try. I assume there are only two bolts on the latch?

[Scott Douglas]

Yes, only two bolts.

[ossiblue]

Scott's photo show the upper latch, of course, and if you can reach those two bolts then that should work also. I had assumed you meant the lower latch but loosening either one should allow enough play to free the hood.
BTW, I suspect Scott is my old buddy from the 912 Registry. If you are: Scott, I found my long hood though it's not the one you turned me on to at the Porsche Swap in February

[Scott Douglas]

Can't wait to see it L.J.
-Scott