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After taking the hood off and working on a 1974 C3, I shut the hood and now I can't get it back open. The passenger side releases with no problem but drivers side will not. I have even taken it down to a body shop to see if they could help either. Anyone have suggestions?
Theres a plug accessible at the bottom of the windshield right where the latch is....I've never had to do it (Thank God) but apparently you can remove the plug and work the latch with screwdriver etc to release that side....
Theres a plug accessible at the bottom of the windshield right where the latch is....I've never had to do it (Thank God) but apparently you can remove the plug and work the latch with screwdriver etc to release that side....
Good Luck
Would happen to have a picture to illistrate what the plug looks like?
Here is a pic. You can see the rubber plug in the upper right. The idea is to poke a screwdriver through to push on the curved release lever. You can also try shaking the hood sideways to release.
OK, so we can't access because of a plastic cover that goes all the way accross the opening. We can reach though the engine compartment from the passenger side and touch the latch with a long rod but an't get it to move. Anyone know what way we should be trying to move it from this angle? It is a 74.
OK, so we can't access because of a plastic cover that goes all the way accross the opening. We can reach though the engine compartment from the passenger side and touch the latch with a long rod but an't get it to move. Anyone know what way we should be trying to move it from this angle? It is a 74.
FatCat,
Sounds like the cables are intact..if not it would not open the passenger side. It appears that the driver side post was not aligned properly when you replaced the hood...thus not releasing. The male post on the frame is hanging on the female insert of the hood causing it not to open even after the cable is activated. I had this problem just last week after paint shop removed hood. Raise the passenger side as much as possible...from the passenger side insert a very long screwdriver (I made one about 36" long) into the locking mechanism on the drivers' side...give it a tap and the hood should pop up. Use a piece of masking tape across the female slot of the hood to check alignment before closing it back. Adjust to make sure the male post is dead center of the hood insert and you should not have a problem. Good luck
Freddie B
FatCat,
Sounds like the cables are intact..if not it would not open the passenger side. It appears that the driver side post was not aligned properly when you replaced the hood...thus not releasing. The male post on the frame is hanging on the female insert of the hood causing it not to open even after the cable is activated. I had this problem just last week after paint shop removed hood. Raise the passenger side as much as possible...from the passenger side insert a very long screwdriver (I made one about 36" long) into the locking mechanism on the drivers' side...give it a tap and the hood should pop up. Use a piece of masking tape across the female slot of the hood to check alignment before closing it back. Adjust to make sure the male post is dead center of the hood insert and you should not have a problem. Good luck
Freddie B
Thanks! Is the locking mechanism on the male or female side?
I had a similar problem some years ago when the cable snapped.
The screw driver worked okay however when the hood finally opened I fashioned a metal rod and made a bend in it so it didn't touch the windscreen.
It's always on hand should the need arise again.
I had a similar problem some years ago when the cable snapped.
The screw driver worked okay however when the hood finally opened I fashioned a metal rod and made a bend in it so it didn't touch the windscreen.
It's always on hand should the need arise again.
We released the pass sids, lifted it and blocked it open. We took a jack rod (Off a Ford Lightning) and pased it through the engine compartment to the latch. We tried several times to release the latch but found we had to take th block on the pass side out in order to release the tension off the drivers side. As soon as we took the block the hood popped!