Hood stuck shut
04-03-2007, 11:42 PM
#21
Le Mans Master
I've had several occasions when the hood on my 86 wouldn't open with the under dash light. Each time I was able to open it by using only a coat hangar fished under the hood.
Sure it took some time and some patience, but it worked each time.
Jake
Sure it took some time and some patience, but it worked each time.
Jake
04-04-2007, 05:50 AM
#22
Le Mans Master
I'm sure it was all good advice, but I am only home for a matter of hours each weekend. After spending time with my kids I sneak out an drive my Porsche for an hour or so, which has left me only a few minutes to try getting the vette hood open each weekend.
I 'made' the tool suggested, using a dent king tool I had, but never could get enough leverage on the passenger latch. Time is money, so I've had to opt to pay GM techs for their time on this issue.
Thanks very much, all. I'll surely need your help again sometime after the hood opens.
I 'made' the tool suggested, using a dent king tool I had, but never could get enough leverage on the passenger latch. Time is money, so I've had to opt to pay GM techs for their time on this issue.
Thanks very much, all. I'll surely need your help again sometime after the hood opens.
04-04-2007, 08:46 AM
#24
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This is one of the best remedies I've seen so far for the dreaded stuck hood problem:
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/show....php?t=1657961
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/show....php?t=1657961
04-11-2007, 11:06 PM
#25
I'm sure it was all good advice, but I am only home for a matter of hours each weekend. After spending time with my kids I sneak out an drive my Porsche for an hour or so, which has left me only a few minutes to try getting the vette hood open each weekend.
I 'made' the tool suggested, using a dent king tool I had, but never could get enough leverage on the passenger latch. Time is money, so I've had to opt to pay GM techs for their time on this issue.
Thanks very much, all. I'll surely need your help again sometime after the hood opens.
I 'made' the tool suggested, using a dent king tool I had, but never could get enough leverage on the passenger latch. Time is money, so I've had to opt to pay GM techs for their time on this issue.
Thanks very much, all. I'll surely need your help again sometime after the hood opens.
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89corvettemann (09-04-2023)
04-12-2007, 01:58 PM
#26
Team Owner
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St. Jude Donor '08-'09
Whenever I lift mine, I crack open both doors, pop the hatch so its just barely opened (free from the body) and loosen all the roof bolts and pick it up and set it back down to make sure its not stuck... once its all loose, then I jack it up. Since the car is a unibody with fiberglass everything ,the entire car flexes, which can cause the roof and other parts to stress, then crack after a while.
04-13-2007, 03:05 AM
#27
Le Mans Master
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"Since the car is a unibody with fiberglass everything"
The C4 actually has a complete steel frame with the f/glass bonded to it.
The steel beams also run across the rollbar/ firewall making it stronger than a true unibody setup where all the strenght is in pressed metal profiles
On both my C4's, I can jack both wheels on one side off the ground from the rear jack point and still open-close doors / hood freely while suspended .
The C4 actually has a complete steel frame with the f/glass bonded to it.
The steel beams also run across the rollbar/ firewall making it stronger than a true unibody setup where all the strenght is in pressed metal profiles
On both my C4's, I can jack both wheels on one side off the ground from the rear jack point and still open-close doors / hood freely while suspended .
04-13-2007, 05:28 PM
#28
Le Mans Master
"Since the car is a unibody with fiberglass everything"
The C4 actually has a complete steel frame with the f/glass bonded to it.
The steel beams also run across the rollbar/ firewall making it stronger than a true unibody setup where all the strenght is in pressed metal profiles
On both my C4's, I can jack both wheels on one side off the ground from the rear jack point and still open-close doors / hood freely while suspended .
The C4 actually has a complete steel frame with the f/glass bonded to it.
The steel beams also run across the rollbar/ firewall making it stronger than a true unibody setup where all the strenght is in pressed metal profiles
On both my C4's, I can jack both wheels on one side off the ground from the rear jack point and still open-close doors / hood freely while suspended .
In fact I purposedly kept the doors closed so I could listen to the cars' radio while I was underneath, without that annoying ding, ding, ding.
If it's in the FSM, that they should be opened, I missed it. Clue me in.
Jake
04-19-2007, 09:26 PM
#30
Advanced
Thread Starter
Nearly $500 to fix
Dealer installed new hood latch cables, hardware, and release handle. $45 of the labor cost was for getting the hood open.
$210 in parts... the rest of the cost I chalk up to not having time to do this work myself.
Thanks for all the info. Now that the car is back home I need to add the tie straps you guys recommended.
$210 in parts... the rest of the cost I chalk up to not having time to do this work myself.
Thanks for all the info. Now that the car is back home I need to add the tie straps you guys recommended.
Last edited by laughac; 04-19-2007 at 10:59 PM.
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toddbvanslyke (08-27-2018)
04-21-2007, 09:32 AM
#32
Le Mans Master
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St. Jude Donor '03-'04-'05-'06-'07
Dealer installed new hood latch cables, hardware, and release handle. $45 of the labor cost was for getting the hood open.
$210 in parts... the rest of the cost I chalk up to not having time to do this work myself.
Thanks for all the info. Now that the car is back home I need to add the tie straps you guys recommended.
$210 in parts... the rest of the cost I chalk up to not having time to do this work myself.
Thanks for all the info. Now that the car is back home I need to add the tie straps you guys recommended.
But now, since the vettes just a toy, I'll wait until I can find the time to try to do it myself.
BTW, no sense in paying $40.00 (+/-) for the tool
Hecklers
has it as does Davies Corvette Parts and Supplies in Florida. It's $19.95 at Davies and they have it in stock. Actually $.04 cheaper than Hecklers (not to mention having to deal with Hecklers )Just picked mine up yesterday. Gonna go get some Ice tea and a chair and start playing with it until it opens
03-02-2009, 07:35 PM
#34
1st Gear
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Worked for me
This was very helpful and worked for me to open the hood of my 91 vette. Thank you to all who posted. Thought I would add a little more.
I made a tool out of a shelf bracket with 1/4 inch steel tube. The tool I made was 18 inches long, but I'd suggest you make one a little longer. The bend on the end should be less than 2 inches. I tried for 10 minutes without success, then I bent the tool inward about 6 inches from the end, then it worked. The end was round when I used it. Afterward I sharpened it on a grinder like a large flat head screwdriver for these pictures, because it will be easier for you.
Tool side view
Tool above view
Tool tip
Latch in resting position
Latch when you open it.
View from above. The latch you are trying to reach is exactly 13 inches from the corner of the windshield molding.
Good luck!
I made a tool out of a shelf bracket with 1/4 inch steel tube. The tool I made was 18 inches long, but I'd suggest you make one a little longer. The bend on the end should be less than 2 inches. I tried for 10 minutes without success, then I bent the tool inward about 6 inches from the end, then it worked. The end was round when I used it. Afterward I sharpened it on a grinder like a large flat head screwdriver for these pictures, because it will be easier for you.
Tool side view
Tool above view
Tool tip
Latch in resting position
Latch when you open it.
View from above. The latch you are trying to reach is exactly 13 inches from the corner of the windshield molding.
Good luck!
Last edited by green 91 vette; 03-02-2009 at 07:48 PM. Reason: added info to pictures
03-02-2009, 09:25 PM
#35
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You've been given good advice, and I hope I can offer something.
The former owner of my car installed zip ties on the hood releases so if the hood cable crapped out, you could get access to them with nothing more than pliers. I'd install some of them once you get your new cable installed.
Good Luck,
80sRule
The former owner of my car installed zip ties on the hood releases so if the hood cable crapped out, you could get access to them with nothing more than pliers. I'd install some of them once you get your new cable installed.
Good Luck,
80sRule
.
05-31-2017, 03:55 AM
#37
Race Director
Your welcome, here's the tool. http://www.madvet.com/shop?frame=3.948
and the instructions
http://content.madirect.com/pdf/609637.pdf
and the instructions
http://content.madirect.com/pdf/609637.pdf
http://www.mamotorworks.com/Corvette...-tool-609637-1
05-31-2017, 02:38 PM
#38
Zen Vet Master Level VII
You can get kits on Ebay for $25. Takes about 15 minutes to install.
08-25-2017, 07:44 AM
#39
Yes. I had this problem with my 88. I put the front up on jackstands and removed both wheels. There is a plastic cover held on by 4 bolts in the wheel well. Remove the covers and you have access to the engine compartment. I heated up an old screwdriver and bent it into a hook. I reached up inside and released the hoodlatch on both sides. Then I changed the cable.
