Hello, This is my first post on the Corvette Forum, I enjoy reading the stories and seeing the pictures of people's extra "baby". I'm the proud owner of a 95 coupe and like you I really enjoy my "go fast" (just calling it a car doesn't seem to do it justice).

I'd like to draw upon the vast knowledge available here and give you the symptoms of a problem I'm having and get any opinions and help you may be able to offer. I'd say I'm not totally mechanically challenged but I don't want to get in over my head and take any chances that I may make matters worse. I have no problems taking the "go fast" to a dealer for service if recommended, but if I can fix it I'd like to at least have the option to decide. I won't say I'm a rich man by any means and I don't mind giving them an arm if I have to, it's just that I don't want to have to give them a leg also if I can help it.

Symptom: I was coming out of a parking lot and all of a sudden my battery alarm came on the console, my power steering went away and my AC got warm.

My deduction: Based on the symptoms I assume I had a belt break. The car was still drivable and it never started to overheat. I was able to strong arm it home. When I went to open the hood to inspect the issue I hood latch wouldn't release the hood on the driver's side. I've tried having someone pull on the latch while I tried to press down and up to release the hold. Any more pressure and I'd be afraid I'd bend the hood at the corner. The passenger side releases fine and the driver's side has always worked until now. My assumption is that maybe the belt has wrapped around something and is possibly causing the release not to occur.

My Question: Is there a technique to release the hood latch independent of the latch and what is your opinion on whether this should be attempted by someone other than a Chevrolet technician.

Thanks: I'd like to thank you in advance for any replies. I have no problem having a dealership take care of this. The only thing that bothers me somewhat is seeing the site of my "go fast" on the back of a tow truck. I apologize to you Corvette fans if that has to happen. Maybe I can get a 100 beautiful women to push it for me.

Thanks again - Ritchie

 

Ritchie, welcome!

As for the belt, that it's 100% correct. The waterpump is driven off the cam, so if the belt does go, it won't hurt the engine... just the battery... and your biceps!

The hood... if you are good, it can be done via the hood itself. There are also tools, basically long rods, that reach in from the door jam and pop the cable.

The other way to get at the hood is to take the inner fenders and battery cover gill off and work in that way.

Either way, you will have to replace the broken part. I also suggest greasing the latches with something like antiseize...

There are others here with more experience fixing the hood...

I hope this helps.

 

Bogus,

Thanks for the reply. Of your two suggestions the fender and grill seems the easier for me. If I have to buy special tools for this I might as well have the mechanic handle this issue.

I guess a follow-up question would be, once I get to the latch I'm going to assume it might be hard to see. Is there a cable I pull on the latch? I guess I'm wondering once I get there how do I actually pop the latch?

Thanks - Ritchie