Broken Hood Release!
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 1,736
Likes: 37
From: Stockton Ca
Broken Hood Release!
What can be done to open my hood? The hood release "lever" came apart! The lever came off w/wire attached. I will need to get under my hood soon. What can I do? What parts do I need to order? Thanks for any help, I've had a bad day in a bad week!
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 1999
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SPARTAN
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Re: Broken Hood Release! (Taijutsu)
I'm not asure of the solution, but I know you're not alone.
In the past we've been a bit reluctant to post directions on how to break into our cars (or engine compartments) but someone should be able to fill you in.
In the past we've been a bit reluctant to post directions on how to break into our cars (or engine compartments) but someone should be able to fill you in.
Racer
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 454
Likes: 0
From: Up in the down WHA
Re: Broken Hood Release! (Taijutsu)
I believe this should help- Mid America's site. If nothing else they've got parts listed right there on the page.
http://www.madvet.com/tech/techartSharkHood.html
-doc
http://www.madvet.com/tech/techartSharkHood.html
-doc
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 1999
Posts: 26,545
Likes: 46
From: Huntersville NC
Re: Broken Hood Release! (drspeedy)
Hopefully the link above will help you get your hood open. I was just thinking about this potential problem because I just unhooked my hood cable under the hood to install a grommet. I put it all together again..... but I am not all that confident that it will hold together. I am going to buy some wire and attach it to the latch and let it hang down in the engine compartment so in an emergency I will be able to easily reach up underneath and pull the wire to open my hood. MJ
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 860
Likes: 40
From: Woodforest
Re: Broken Hood Release! (Taijutsu)
Not sure of your year model, but on my 82 there are two pop out caps that can be seen from the wiper channel. On the passenger side, pop out the cap with a screwdriver and push down on the small lever you can see. This pops that latch. On the drivers side, the screwdriver has to go in about 8 inches to get at the latch assembly. This one takes a side to side twist to pop this latch and is a little more difficult to do because you can't see what you are doing. Hard to do when you are cussing the thing. Good luck! :cuss
Burning Brakes
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 795
Likes: 0
From: Madison MS
Re: Broken Hood Release! (bigvette1)
I had this problem and I knew about the plugs at the base of the windshield. But still couldn't get it to release. Notice on the link they are showing you how to do it with the hood up (makes sense for illustration purposes) but there is so little room to manuver in the wiper valley with the hood closed that it is almost imposible on an older C3 at least. Mine is a 74. It has different latches than the ones in the pictures. I ended up jacking the car up and removing the latches from under the car. It is quite a reach around the master cylinder from the bottom but that was the only thing I could do. Luckily once I got the driver's side loose, I could just pull the cross-over cable to pop the passenger side.
Good luck. Especially if you have the older style latches.
dl
Good luck. Especially if you have the older style latches.
dl
Racer
Joined: May 1999
Posts: 268
Likes: 1
From: CT
Re: Broken Hood Release! (dladd74roadster)
when I was adjusting the hood on my 71 it decided not to release at all. I dont know if you can get your hand through the side vent on yours but I had tons of room there on mine. I was able to reach up inside the engine bay and release the mechanism by hand. The vent in yours may be too small though. Good Luck
Kevin
Kevin
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Instructor
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 132
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From: Little Rock AR
Re: Broken Hood Release! (Taijutsu)
I recently had the complication of not being able to open my hood. I had restored both of my spring assemblies and readjusted them for proper hood lines. Unfortunately, I adjusted them a little low and the cable stop came off when I pulled the hood release. Now the hood was stuck. In order to get it open I had to remove the small metal plate that was in front of the driver side wheel well. I could then reach up and pull the lever that releases the latch. It was not easy to pull the latch. Use caution when restoring hood latches!!!
Burning Brakes
Joined: Feb 1999
Posts: 951
Likes: 0
Re: Broken Hood Release! (dladd74roadster)
I have a '74 and had my hood release cable break. The release lever on a '74 is different than the one in the MAD VET photos. The lever is on the hood. There is a flat area that you can push on with a LONG bent screwdriver or some such tool. The tool should be long enough to slide on the windshield.
