(Firebird) Hood stuck shut in a weird way...
 

So my hood won't open. This isn't the typical "bang on the hood until it opens" scenario. The latch release handle is under tension and won't budge when I pull it. I've had someone work the handle while I push down/pull up on the hood with no joy. There is a little bit of play on the hood and it's not fully shut so I was able to peek in at the latch and snapped a pic.

https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.thi...50a85bccf6.jpg

It appears that the bar is stuck on top of the latch rather than in it. I'm assuming it's caught on the secondary safety catch if there is one but I can't see it to confirm. Any ideas what to try?

Re: (Firebird) Hood stuck shut in a weird way...
 

Secondary latch is not part of the main latch./ Its of fto the side on the right..... Are you just not releasing the secondary? gthat looks liek theres enough room for the latch to be released and only the secondary is catching

Re: (Firebird) Hood stuck shut in a weird way...
 

It's not letting me get even a finger underneath to reach the secondary hood latch, so it's most def caught on the main latch. How it's trapped though is still a mystery.

Re: (Firebird) Hood stuck shut in a weird way...
 

Your latch could be misaligned so the hood "bar" that goes into the latch is binding up. It could be the angle but the "bar" that colts to thehood looks like its hitting the left of the latch.



I had that happen once....A good tug gets it loose

Re: (Firebird) Hood stuck shut in a weird way...
 

So far nothing. I took another look and compared it to online pics of the latch mechanism and it isn't sitting on top - it's latched within the hook as it normally would be. There's a little bit of play with the hood so that tells me the latch mechanism is somehow seized independently of the striker bar and pulling it open with the release handle isn't providing enough force to release it. Never had a problem with it before.

Re: (Firebird) Hood stuck shut in a weird way...
 

If you can shove a wobble / swivel extension / universal joint in there and a I think it's 13?? mm socket... you can undo those two bolts and the latch should come off and the hood will open. The cable will prevent it from going up high but you should get decent clearance I believe.

3/8 dfrive might be a little thick but 1/4 drive should give you a bit more clearance / wiggle room to get the socket onto the bolt.

Re: (Firebird) Hood stuck shut in a weird way...
 

Take it for a slow ride taking hard left and right turns. It might pop open on its own.

Re: (Firebird) Hood stuck shut in a weird way...
 

Looks like the hood latch was in the closed position and the hood was slammed shut. Now the safety latch is holding the hood closed. There's no room to push the hood down to release the safety latch, essentially wedging the hood in place.

The suggestion of removing the latch bolts is probably the only way to get the hood opened.

Re: (Firebird) Hood stuck shut in a weird way...
 

Any updates? I am having the same issue. I feel tension release, when I pull or actuate the lever from the bottom of the car. Nevertheless, the hood will not push up at all. Even if I try from the bottom.