Trying to do some work on the car today and the hood release won't open my hood. I really need to get some work done today as it's my day off. Any ideas? Much appreciated. The hood release lever is all the way out and I'm pushing it in and out and my spring won't react to pop it open. Any ways I can open this thing? Much appreciated.

 

Most of the times the wire is frayed which will cause the lock not to return. the hood release has a 2 action lever, pull to release to the first catch and the when the handle is realeased it will fully disengage. The only way to open the lock is to get the car on a lift or stands, remove the lower radiator baffling and use a long screwdriver to work the lever in and out

 

i had that issue when i first got my car. i would lay on the ground and reach up until i felt wear the cable attached to the release. then just pullthat towards the cable and push up a little on the hood(bad hood pistons at the time). the when it poped, crawl back and and open it the rest of the way.

 

how are your hood shocks? Mine were shot and the hood did not like to pop unless you bumped the hood with your hand and gave it a good jimmy. I installed new hood shocks and the hood pops every time.

 

Punch the hood

 

Lol, I had one a while back that wouldn't fully release and I would have to get out and give it a little rap for it to pop up.

Op, when you get the hood open, also check the release mechanism and make sure it's lubed and moving freely. It's common for that to seize up and create more stress on the cable.

 

My cable came off at the latch not to long ago. The latch assembly shouldn't run you more than about $20 new, so it is worthwhile replacing it once you get the hood open. Buy the new one and check its mechanism. You should see how it releases. There is a clip that the cable clips into and over time the little locking clip gets worn, broken, clogged with crap or just loses its 'spring' and the cable pulls out.
Anyway, get underneath the car, remove any shrouding that stops you getting your hand up to the latch and feel around. You will find where the cable should clip down into the release mechanism. That lever is what you have to move toward the drivers side- you may need to wear mechanics gloves if you have delicate, 'artists' hands like mine, LOL!
As soon as you can move that lever toward the driver's side, you will hear it release.

 

I was working on a 89 Firebird not too long ago at U-Pull-It. The hood was jammed the same way. If you jack up the front you should be able to see the two bolts where the striker is attached to the hood. With several extensions and a ratchet I took out those bolts and the hood was free.

 

Just got back from being down under the car. I removed the plastic shroud and felt around underneath and found the hood release lever....and the hood release cable was literally non-existant. Played around with the lever and the hood still won't pop up. My guess is that the hood spring lost it's ability to bounce the hood up.

 

You might need someone to lift the hood, but it is so easy to figure out when you have a new one or one from a junker, in your hand...

 

I'll snap a pic of the release when I get home for you.

 

I can confirm that this works, or simply slapping it with the bottom of your hand
in between the the "vents"

 

About every 6 months I clean the latch mechanism and spray it with either WD-40 or white lithium grease. Haven't had to bang the hood in a while.

 

,
don't punch it to HARD tho !!!!

 

I can fourth this mine sometimes does not pop. I pull the relase and I ball up my fist and give a couple light taps to the very front middle edge of the hood. I hit with the bottom of the fist (pinky side) until the hood pops up.

 

take a flat blade screwdriver, put a shop rag around the tip and insert it between the hood and pas side fender and lightly pry to the dr side. if it releases then you simply need to adj your hood latch.

a friend had this issue and the latch dipped a bit on the drivers side bolt and he adj the latch along with a little lube and had no issue after. it dosent take much for it to have release issues.

 

 

My Dad's Trans Am did the same thing to me a couple weeks ago. I climbed under the car, and reached up where the hood latch is with a flat blade screwdriver and pushed over on the release with the screwdriver, and at the same time I used the handle of a hammer to put pressure up on the hood and it popped right up. I then climbed up and raised and lowered the hood slowly while watching where the hood spring made contact with the little indentation on the core support. The spring was not lining up with it.....it was hitting the front side of the indentation and folding the spring over so it wouldnt pop up the hood. I tweaked it until it fit inside the indentation, and it's worked perfect ever since. Oh, and I lubed the mechanism while I was tinkering with it, too.....but it was the spring itself that was giving me all the trouble.