Mathius

I have an acquaintance who has an iroc camaro... it was built in '86 so it's probably an 87, but I don't know that for sure.. He blew the engine and parked the car at my buddy's house. He said he was getting a completely new engine setup and told me I could have the serpentine setup off the car.

Problem is I can't get the hood open.

I did a search a few weeks ago and looked for all the ideas I could find. I tried giving the bumper cover a wack, I tried jiggling the latch, I tried pulling the corners of the hood. I did not jack the car up, but I did reach my arm under and there appears to be some ducting going to the front grille. I don't believe it would be easy if at all possible to get to the latch from under the car. (although I've never seen ducting like that on a camaro, my '92 never had it).

The hood release inside the car feels loose like maybe the cable broke, but when you pull it you can hear a distinct noise coming from under the hood. Unfortunately it doesn't seem to do anything.

The hood however is slightly opened... I'm not sure which of the two latches is released, or if the hood itself is warped or bent in some way. The latch underhood latch that you push to open the hood doesn't seem to do much of anything either. The metal seems very weak and bends really easily. Lifting up on it doesn't release the hood.

Shining a flash light under the hood revealed nothing. I couldn't see the latch mechanism, and of course the cable latch sits back about 8" behind the tip of the hood from what I remember, recessed pretty low in front of the radiator support.

I'm really out of ideas. The car is being towed before the end of the month, so this weekend is probably my last chance to figure it out, or I pass up on a free serpentine setup that I would really like to install on one of my other vehicles.

Anyone have any new ideas? Or maybe think I didn't try something that could have worked?

Mathius

ILUVMY89

just let them tow it to the shop there gonna have to open it anyways somehow then just tell your buddy to get the serpentine setup off the engine then.... or take the panel off were the hoood latch is find the wire and while you pull the wire have some1 lift the hood at the same time

Ca[maro]88

iTrader: (2)

torch.

1Aauto

If the cable inside the car feels loose,the hood cable might have broke.You'll probably have to work around and find the release in there. Once you get it open,a good thing to do is to put a little white grease on the hood,hatch,and door latches to keep them working properly.

mmm88TA

iTrader: (3)

That sounds like a problem I used to have w/ my hood. When you pulled the release it would make a sound but not do anything. To get my hood up you would need to pull the release then jiggle or lightly tap the hood near the hood spring to get it to pop. hope you get it.

steve87ta

iTrader: (4)

One thing I noticed is that with no spring the latch will (stay in the middle) of the two catches try lifting and then use the lever. ( I found this on my wife's car when I bought it, it had no fenders just a hood slapped on to keep the rain out and I thought the cable was broken but with no part for the spring to push up on it I could not get it open. I thought WTF? I figured it out when I could see up in there but you can't- maybe the spring broke?)
The cable on her car was fine. I kept lifting and I should have lifted and then pull the release. I have been around hood latches for a while and it kind of stumped me for a bit. Good luck with it!

9014josh

iTrader: (1)

kinda a 2 person job...have someone pull on the latch and someone else pull on the hood,holding onto both sides of the hood...also try pushing down on the hood to see if you can hear a click then try repeating it...i had this problem with my 87 i bought..it took well over half an hour of messin around before i finally got it..

paulo57509

If the cable is broken.......

I noticed this little door below the hood latch this weekend when I was replacing my water pump. You should be able to get to it from underneath the car. After prying it open, you might be able to access the hood latch through the opening.

jim91gta

if it clicks and you touch hood it mught be locking itself again.

My 91 bird did this last week.

vibration set it free.

try having someone hold the hood release up , or prop it up with something.
then try light rapping on the hood near the latch area. then harder force.
let go of the hood release and try the light rapping on the hood again.

If it has been closed for a long time grease and dirt may have created a thick mess. like when you don't lube your suspension points and the grease and dirt harden around the nipple.

the vibration may release it.

Mathius

Long story short, he's an idiot and he's blowing his money on things like sports bikes while this camaro rots away. He's been 'storing' it at my buddies house in his driveway and the city is demanding it gets moved. It's gonna be moved away and put in storage in Sandusky, where I won't see or have access to the car. It might be years before he gets to the engine swap, IF he does the engine swap.

In short, it's not an option.
I tried jiggling the sh*t out of it, prying on it, etc. I tried pushing down on it, it just springs back up. Possibly the hood might even be bent for all I know and it isn't popped at all, but it looks to me like one of the hinges actually released, but I'm putting my money on the lever type one, not the hood cable, because if it was the hood cable I believe there would be a lot more room.

Mathius

Mathius

I guess I could jack the car up and be sure, but it sure felt like the air ducts going between the grille and the radiator would keep me from accessing that latch.

Mathius

1piece@atime

iTrader: (1)

Remember as you're working on it that the hood release handle has to go back in after it's popped the hood for the latch to fully release. If someone is holding the handle out after it's popped, the hood wont open.