Hey guys, so for some reason my hood randomly decided to refuse to open on me, and i cannot figure out how to get it open. I've spent the past day tinkering with it and it wont budge. when i pull the lever inside the car it sounds like it pops open but when i go to lift it up its still stuck on something, ive tried having someone pull on it while i try and pop it open, ive tried getting a screwdriver in there to pull up the front hinge and it still wont open.

any ideas? i need this thing open so i can get some more anti-freeze in it, its about to get around 10-15 degrees later this week.

 

you may need a helper have a fellow pull the lever and just bag lightly with your palm of your hand on the front of the hood. do this a few times. if still nothing you can always put the car on ramps go under and use needle nose pliers and pull the lever that way. i remember my first thirdgen had the same problem.

 

darn, i was really hoping i didnt have to get under the car, i dont have access to any ramps till saturday.

what do you think caused the problem? does the hood just need to be aligned?

 

you probably just have a frayed latch cable.

 

If it makes a popping sound like it's releasing, but it's not... perhaps it's misaligned? Mine used to do this before I realigned it, and I had to pull up on the BACK of the hood, near the windshield and it would make it break loose and pop up an inch so I could get to the latch in the front.

 

and the only way to fix a frayed cable is to just a get a new one then, right?

 

yes. ebay has them. when you finally get it open check the latch itself. it may be off to low or something.

 

Both my Firebirds have done this periodically. Pull the latch release until it seems to release, then slowly push down on the front of the hood. Not enough to close it, Mine will usually release after a few pushes. I even opened a hood this way at Pick and Pull when a stubborn hood wouldn't open up. It worked!

 

Before replacement, try some lubrication.

JamesC

 

 

well, i kinda jammed a screwdriver in there and jiggled it while pulling the hood up and it eventually popped open. and i definately have a frayed cable, it barely pulls back the latch to release it. so ill get a replacement for it soon. thanks a bunch guys, i appreciate the help!

 

make sure when you replace that cable, that you put a little never seize on the latch assembly and cable when you put it in..

 

also see if the rivet that the latch pivots on is loose. my cars hood latch had a loose rivet and it wouldnt let my hood open without forcing it and after i tighetened up the rivet it works perfectly you can see if it is loose by having the hood open and trying to move the latch back and forth towards the hood. or could try pushing the hood towards the windsheild without hitting the lever.

 

The largest problem that I am having, is I bought a Turbo Daytona Hood and it doesn't have a place for the hood spring to attach. I was thinking about fabricating the spring into the hood and just finally decided to leave it alone since it was painted.

 

I know this sounds bad, but my lever for the hood broke off, so i pulled the wire with pliers, and got under the car to where the bracket holding the latch is, and unbolted it, then shimmied the hood open

 

hey man, if i were you i'd run to a U-pull It. you could get one for like $5. I went last week for the plastic things on the headrest of the seat to keep the seatbelt off your neck, the guy let me have them for free, haha