Hi All
My '78 hood won't release on pass side. I was able to pull the connector cable and it sounds released but the hood still won't let go on that side. Making me a little crazy. I saw a thread about the vent access hole with a plastic grate over it. Is this the key? Can't get my hand in there with the hood locked down.
Help!
Bob

 

I actually have the same problem everynow and then... Ok what I do is that on the driver side I can pull the hood up a little bit, and put my hand under there, and you can feel a cord (simular to a bike brake cord). What you need to do is pull it towards you. If you can't get your hand under there try a hangar or something and hook it. It goes along the top of the hood right befor the vents. The problem is that the cable is old, and just stretched out you need adjust it and make it tighter... (The whole system itself is actually like a bike brake...)
Charles

 

Thanks Charles(my middle name....cool). I've been there though. I can pull the braided cable and it moves but still nothing. With a flasklight i can see the closed latch. It's just fully closed.

 

Hmm... The first time you pulled that cable did you hear it pop release and still it doesnt open. Or did you just pull it, and it still wont release. Also did either side of the hood release. My left side always release but sometimes the passenger side sticks. If you didnt hear a pop release sound I'd recomend trying to pull a little harder (Just incase you havnt already I know you got to pull a little hard). I'm not near my car right now or I would go out to it for you, and trouble shoot it for ya.
Charles

 

Oh, that's ok. I never heard it pop. The cable pulled a few times now it's stuck. I would guess it's no longer connected to the latch. The left side is ok. I'll just keep at it.
Thanks

 

No problem bud. Sorry I can't be more of help... Good luck

 

don't lose your cool and just keep jiggling it. Try pushing down and pulling up on the hood at the latch point then gently side to side to try and work it loose. You will eventually get it and feel like you've really accomplished somthing.

My cable broke late at night before i was to run at Lime Rock. Boy i was pissed. Worked on it for about an hour with a screwdrive in the parking lot of the hotel around midnight.

These cars are fun....yeh.

 

There's an access hole from the wiper trough to get at the latch. Run the wipers up and park them. To the inside of the wiper you will see a small plastic plug. Take a long screwdriver and push the plug into the engine compartment. Take the screwdriver and insert it into the bottom side of the hole and push straight in and down. Do not twist or pry. Just run it in and try to hit the lever. What you are doing is pushing down on the same lever that the crossover cable pulls down on. Oh, and the 78 hood latch system is different from what vettlibido has on his 76.
Mike

 

Here is a link to a website to help with your problem. It has photos on it that shows where to use a screwdriver to open the latch.

http://www.madvet.com/shop?store=1&...=236&frame=3852

I can cut and paste the words, but not the photos
kdf



Shown above are some pictures of the hood latches on a '78.

Nothing is more frustrating than pulling on the hood release of your 1968-82 Corvette and having the cable snap! We have observed this happening at nearly every show that we attend. Simple maintenance, such as lubricating and checking the cables for wear will reduce the chance of unexpected failure, but if the worst does occur, there is a simple solution.

Located in the windshield wiper well, just in front of the windshield, are two access ports covered by plastic plugs. These are positioned just behind the hood latches in the engine compartment. Take a few minutes to check the location of the ports and their positions relative to the hood latches. In an emergency, you can push a long screwdriver through these plugs on 1968-76 models and flip the hood latches forward enough to release them. On 1977-82 models, the hood latches may be tripped by prying the drivers side latch lever to the outside. This should release both sides, but if it only releases the driver's side, then repeat the procedure on the passenger's side access port.

A) Shown here is the drivers side hood latch. Insert a long screwdriver (approx. 12") through the grommet from the windshield side and insert the tip into the slot on the latch. Push in the direction of the arrows.

B) Here's a close-up of the drivers side latch with the screwdriver engaging the slot. If the crossover cable isn't broken, this should pop the hood.

C) If the crossover cable is broken, you will need to repeat the procedure on the passenger side. The passenger side latch works a bit differently. Insert the screwdriver to engage the tang shown on the right and lever it down (in the direction of the left-most arrow).

D) The screwdriver only has to be inserted an inch or so to engage the passenger side tang.

Take a few minutes now to check out these access ports and practice the procedure. Its much easier to do if you practice with the hood open and get a feel for the locations and distances to reach these latches. If your cables are old and looking frayed, replacement now would be strongly suggested.

By learning this simple technique, you just may "save the day" for yourself or a fellow Corvette owner.

 

after reading some of the horror stories of broken latch cables
i practiced the above method for an hour until i got it down pat.

 

I may try this when i get home


great tip


tim

 

Man....You guys are aces. I never even noticed that plug. You failed to mention after 20 minutes of cussing, you go in and tell your wife with the skinny hand to push that little thing down with the bent screwdriver. Then 'POP'. I saw what it was. The cable shield slipped. That screwdriver stays in the car. Thank you all. I love this forum.
Bob

 

I had my car about two days when my cable broke. Found the screwdriver hole via the forum, but it was a real pain in the ***.

Sooo, I hung a couple pieces of thin cable off of each latch. You really can't see them unless you know they're there. If my main cable ever breaks or comes loose, I can pull the cables from under the car to open the hood.

 

My bad I didnt think there was a considerable difference between the two modles on the hood release... But you learn something new everyday I guess...

 

This just happened to me last night.

I have a '79

Is it the same procedure. I remembered seeing the process that kdf1986 posted in a previous thread and was looking for the holes. I only found the drivers side. Is the Pass side the same?

Thinking about putting the "insurance cables" on like Avette4me has on his when I get this thing open.

 

I heard about someone having their hood cable snap when I first got my car, and first thing I did was go out in the garage and practice with a screwdriver with hood open so I could see what I was doing, then closed the hood and practiced popping it open without the cable. Now I can open my hood equally fast with a screw driver or hood release cable.

 

Hi
I'm not positive but, I think '79 hood is the same as '78. I never noticed the holes either until I looked for them. About the size of half dollar. In the firewall below the wipers, directly in line with the latch. Right behind the hole is a latch to push down. Good luck.
Bob

 

one of the best tools you will ever buy to work on your C3 is the longest pair of needlenose pliers you can find! i bought my pair at harbor freight and they have paid great dividends! they work really good in these situations!

 

I have a Harbor Freight Tool Store here in Pearl. Some of their stuff aint all that great but when it comes to having something for a specific purpose or a one time job they are great. I have alot of their stuff too. I picked up the big assortment of needle nose pliers awhile back and the biggest/longest ones were included.

I also got a big set of screw drivers so I could cut and bend them into specialty stuff.

I am going to get out bright and early on Sat Am and try the hood release.

 

Had the same problem when I broke the hood release cable on my '72. When the hood was finally opened I made myself a release tool out of stainless steel rod with a nice little rubber tip so as not to scratch anything should this occur again. It was worth taking 1/2 hour to get it right.