Emergency hood release recent threads??
#22
Pro
Same idea as metal cables, but I used large plastic cable ties. Probably not as strong, but adequate, cheaper, won't damage paint and will last in most climates. Agree too clean out old grease from latches and replace with new. And grease original release cable.
#24
Drifting
Tell me the story again about how YOU can't use the tool without scratching your paint, therefor no one else can.
#25
Racer
Member Since: Aug 2015
Location: douglasville georgia
Posts: 329
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About 2 weeks ago my driver side latch wouldn't release. I thought the cable had broke but in the end it was just that the plastic piece the cable goes in jumped out of the notch. I put it back like its supposed to be and all is well again.
I made the tool with a 24" piece of 3/16 steel rod. I bent it in my vise. One end I bent 1" down measured back 18" and bent the remaining length up. I measured from the 1" bend back 13" and marked the rod with a sharpie. This was all per the instructions I read on line.
I opened the driver door, inserted the rod under the hood so that the black mark lined up with the end of the windshield molding and had the hood opened in less than a minute.
I do plan on making the emergency release cables in the future. For now the tool I made rides behind the driver seat.
I made the tool with a 24" piece of 3/16 steel rod. I bent it in my vise. One end I bent 1" down measured back 18" and bent the remaining length up. I measured from the 1" bend back 13" and marked the rod with a sharpie. This was all per the instructions I read on line.
I opened the driver door, inserted the rod under the hood so that the black mark lined up with the end of the windshield molding and had the hood opened in less than a minute.
I do plan on making the emergency release cables in the future. For now the tool I made rides behind the driver seat.
Last edited by 94corvetteC4; 07-04-2017 at 10:13 AM.
#26
Racer
A good compromise might be to make one of the rods mentioned and then give it a coat of PlatiDip or cover with some thin walled tubing. That would prevent scratches if that is a concern. Just a thought.
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FOURSPEEDVETTE (07-04-2017)
#29
Drifting
#31
Team Owner
Pro Mechanic
It's like most maintenance; if people did it we wouldn't have threads about breaking into hoods, overheating engines, etc.
#34
Pro
I guess we could add "sawzall" to the list of emergency hood release tools...and I love how he tried a hammer first, but that didn't work!
Last edited by Edv92c4; 07-09-2017 at 11:44 AM.
#36
Melting Slicks
#37
Pro
I'd bet that 99% of hood release failures occur from this; stiff, dried up grease, latches. When it's cleaned and lubed the hood can be released w/a pinky. That is some low stress on the cables and mechanism. When I bought my car the latches were dry and the release was stiff...but not alarmingly so. Still, I cleaned and lubed them both and now a pinky can do it.
It's like most maintenance; if people did it we wouldn't have threads about breaking into hoods, overheating engines, etc.
It's like most maintenance; if people did it we wouldn't have threads about breaking into hoods, overheating engines, etc.
Interim fix was to use .040" stainless wire twisted affixed to latch in the same manner as "emergency cables" until I can procure a new release cable.
#38
Drifting
Sorry for the necro bump but I thought this thread was the most appropriate. Well...you already guessed what happened! Didn't think this would happen so soon considering the ease of opening the hood. Poor attempt of making a "hoodie slimjim" tool out of some 3/16" rod I had laying around with numerous failed attempts to unlatch from the door jamb. The rod material was too soft as the rod would twist under tension. Managed to get the hood unlatched by stopping wipers at vertical and fishing for the the latch from the base of the wiper arm. Not my pic, marked up for representation of angle...
Interim fix was to use .040" stainless wire twisted affixed to latch in the same manner as "emergency cables" until I can procure a new release cable.
Interim fix was to use .040" stainless wire twisted affixed to latch in the same manner as "emergency cables" until I can procure a new release cable.
When my hood DID jam (on a trip to Tail of the Dragon!!) it was because the clip holding the cable in place broke off. Everything was lubed and it opened with a pinky until it did not. So that finally puts me in the coveted one percent, according to Tom.
That being the case, I'll be upgrading to a ZR-1 any day now.
#39
Le Mans Master
The tool I bought from Eckler's works a treat. Still sits unnoticed behind my seat. Bonus is, no C4 savvy thieves can pop my hood. Since I actually drive my C4 daily, and pond scum walks free among us, that is a concern.
When my hood DID jam (on a trip to Tail of the Dragon!!) it was because the clip holding the cable in place broke off. Everything was lubed and it opened with a pinky until it did not. So that finally puts me in the coveted one percent, according to Tom.
That being the case, I'll be upgrading to a ZR-1 any day now.
When my hood DID jam (on a trip to Tail of the Dragon!!) it was because the clip holding the cable in place broke off. Everything was lubed and it opened with a pinky until it did not. So that finally puts me in the coveted one percent, according to Tom.
That being the case, I'll be upgrading to a ZR-1 any day now.