when i release my hood, it will not "pop" open - is this cuz of a weak spring, or something else? the hood stays closed until i pop the front of it with my hand or tug on it from under the headlights, so the release appears to be working, it just won't pop up... thanks...

KAM

 

This is a very common problem with all hoods. You need to get it open and really lube up the mechanism, I mean lube it, then work it back and forth till it moves with ease. Even lube the actuall secondary realease handle that is on the hood itself. Also spray it on the exposed peice of cable too, then open and close the hood quite a few times to work it all in, and you should be good to go. HTH

Keiran

 

i had a similar problem, i lubed everything up and then had to go a step further and pull the spring out and extend it some more, and after that it pops up by itself now..

 

ours doors have almost the same problem. The hinges need to be oiled too, or they will squeek really bad, and could even freeze shut (have seen it happen to buddies firebird) It was funny, but sad at the same time. Funny cause its my buddy and he always says his firebird is better than my camaro, and sad because its a third gen, and I gotta be nice. Later

 

That's one thing that's weird about my car. I have the normal hood sometimes sticks problem, but my doors have no sag and they open and shut fine without ever squeking. I don't have the normal problems people seem to have with the thirdgen doors. I guess I am just lucky.

 

I use a lithium spray that came in a spray can and had a tube on the spray nozzle so you can better direct the spray.

 

More important than lubing it, is actually cleaning it. All the grease in the world won't help if the mechanism is in a bind because of grit in the latch.

Take the latch out (two screws) and hit it with some brake cleaner and a toothbrush. Then grease the daylights out of it and reinstall.

 

or you can leave it and just "Fonzie" the hood open. Your friends will think it's sooooo cooool!

 

mine used to stay down until I got out and slightly pushed down on the hood... it works fine now, I just adjusted it, unfortunately I do not know what I did, but it works...

I know I am no help.

John

 

I'm leaving mine. Just in case someone decides to break into my car and want to disable my car alarm, they won't be able to get the hood open without knowing the "trick".

 

I know I am opening up a old post, but I have a problem.. I cannot open my hood with any of the tricks everyone has recommended. Does anyone have a idea on how I can get my hood open? I am thinking I might have to get a new hood, and cut the old one up to get to the latch and then install a new hood. Any suggestions would be excellent!!!

 

Jack up the front of your car and pull off the plastic air deflector that goes from the bumper up towards the underside of the radiator. With that off you'll be able to unbolt the whole hood latch support from the radiator support, 3 bolts total on that. One bolt in the bottom center, one at each side at the top. That will let you raise the hood a couple inches (until the hood release cable limits you) and you can undo two more bolts on the underside of the hood to remove the bar that the hood latch grabs. With that off you'll be able to raise your hood.

 

Wow! If this works I owe you a big hug!!! Thanks for the quick reply! I will try that today when I get off of work, and let you know.

 

Just thought of one thing that might allow that to not work, if you have a TPI camaro the stock air filter housing would block the whole latch support from going up. After you got it unbolted from the radiator support, you'd have to undo two more bolts to remove the latch itself from the bigger piece its bolted to, the latch is small enough to fit through the opening between the filters.

But if you have a TBI or Carb the intake doesn't go around the latch and should work as described.

 

Technically from the underside you should be able to see the hood mech, and if needed you could use a screwdriver or pliers or something to move the lever over... Your cable may be broken, so it might not be simple, you will have to play with it for a bit to see what is going on...

I know on my car I do not think I can unbolt it from the underside, the bolts are on the top...

John

 

not trying to jack the thread but is it normal to have to hold the safety latch in while closing the hood? if I just try to push it down the lever hits the frame instead of going in the hole.

 

No that is not normal. The part of the hood where the latch is attached it probably bent. Just play with it.

As far as the hood latch, I cleaned it with engine degreaser gel. I let it soak for about 5-10 minutes while I cleaned the rest of my engine and just hose it off. It pops everytime now.