C4 hood won't open, HELP!!!
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 463
Likes: 2
From: Wausau WI
C4 hood won't open, HELP!!!
I own a 1989 Convertible. That the hood won't open on. I've owned it about six weeks and I've opened the hood about 6 times. It always seemed like it stuck a little. Now the passenger side won't release at all. The drivers side does fine. I've tried everything I can think of. I had some people help me with the release while I pull on it. I've tried to push down first. What can I do to get it open? 
Pro
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 583
Likes: 0
From: Pittsburgh PA
Maybe a bad cable or cable connection. This is a tool that many use. Some fab their own.
http://content.madirect.com/pdf/609637.pdf
http://content.madirect.com/pdf/609637.pdf
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 463
Likes: 2
From: Wausau WI
Maybe a bad cable or cable connection. This is a tool that many use. Some fab their own.
http://content.madirect.com/pdf/609637.pdf
http://content.madirect.com/pdf/609637.pdf
Former Vendor
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 698
Likes: 0
From: Social Circle Georgia
Is the hood popping up at all on the passenger side?
If so have you tried having someone hold the release while you push the hood to the left or right. Of course you don't want to force it for fear of damaging the hood, but a little nudge could get it to release fully if it's already part way released.
If so have you tried having someone hold the release while you push the hood to the left or right. Of course you don't want to force it for fear of damaging the hood, but a little nudge could get it to release fully if it's already part way released.
Team Owner
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 53,713
Likes: 5,609
From: Plantation Florida USAF(Retired) 1966-1990
U.S. Air Force
St. Jude Donor '05 thru '26
NCM Sinkhole Donor
Had that happen to my 89 also, and took a coat hanger and folded it into a loop, and slipped it in the hood past the rubber seal, and played fisherman. I must be good patients and in 5 minutes I hooked the latch, gave it pull and it opened.
Instructor
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 231
Likes: 0
Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 8,700
Likes: 298
From: Ft. Lauderdale Fl
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Instructor
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 231
Likes: 0
no, i mean do this;
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/show....php?t=1372483
(post 5-8)
as the coated wire stands almost an infinitesimal chance of NOT breaking due to strain, stress, weather, heat, etc then a plastic appendage does.
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/show....php?t=1372483
(post 5-8)
as the coated wire stands almost an infinitesimal chance of NOT breaking due to strain, stress, weather, heat, etc then a plastic appendage does.
Last edited by badabing9; Dec 23, 2007 at 04:34 PM. Reason: spelling
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Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 463
Likes: 2
From: Wausau WI
Is the hood popping up at all on the passenger side?
If so have you tried having someone hold the release while you push the hood to the left or right. Of course you don't want to force it for fear of damaging the hood, but a little nudge could get it to release fully if it's already part way released.
If so have you tried having someone hold the release while you push the hood to the left or right. Of course you don't want to force it for fear of damaging the hood, but a little nudge could get it to release fully if it's already part way released.
Pro
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 638
Likes: 0
From: Plano TX
You can save money on the tool... perhaps. Have you tried to grab the braided wire from behind the latch inside the car? My passenger side got hung up when I adjusted it just a bit too much. Fortunately I was able to grab the wire with a pair of pliers and pop the hood back open.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 5,858
Likes: 7
From: Santa Maria CA
no, i mean do this;
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/show....php?t=1372483
(post 5-8)
as the coated wire stands almost an infinitesimal chance of NOT breaking due to strain, stress, weather, heat, etc then a plastic appendage does.
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/show....php?t=1372483
(post 5-8)
as the coated wire stands almost an infinitesimal chance of NOT breaking due to strain, stress, weather, heat, etc then a plastic appendage does.
Drifting
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 1,934
Likes: 3
From: Citrus Heights California
Your cable is either broken or disconnected on the passenger's side. Jack up the car on the passenger's side. Place it on a jack stand. Pull the wheel. You will see a rectangular plastic cover in your wheel well. It should have 6 number 10 bolts. Remove the bolts and cover. Heat up an old screw driver and bend it into a hook. Reach inside, place the hook inside the hood latch and pull towards the engine.
Last edited by Kool88vette; Dec 24, 2007 at 10:11 AM.
Former Vendor
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 698
Likes: 0
From: Social Circle Georgia
I agree with Kool. It sounds like your cable is broken. I've never heard of his method to fix the situation before but knowing these cars, I don't see how it wouldn't work. Good luck.
Instructor
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 231
Likes: 0
all you have to do is make a small hole about the size of a pencil lead/point and fish the wire through. the hood seal will make a good seal around the wire and besides, it is too small for water or fumes to pass with the wire running through it. however, to each his own.
Team Owner
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 26,196
Likes: 0
From: Orlando FL
St. Jude Donor '08-'09
I couldn't make the tool work. I took the wheel well out and just popped it open with my fingers. I created the emergency release pull cables while I was at it. If one of the cables is broke and you get a new one, then cut the old cable in half to make your emergency release cables with.
Instructor
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 176
Likes: 0
From: Milltown NJ
Before using hood tool....
Take a real good look at the pictures in this thread. I went through this a few months ago. I took the tool, popped the drivers side latch in about 5 seconds, and proceeded to spend over an hour trying to get the pass. side latch. Scratched up the paint inside the hood and all on the side of the latch bracket. Finally got fed up, logged onto forum and stared at the pictures of the latch whiule holding the tool. Once I had a clear understanding of what I was trying to get the tool to do
(pop into the channel where the latch release is, by pivoting up and over the side of the big square bracket, then in twisting the other way push the mechanism over)
then I got the passenger side right away. I now keep the tool in the car along the floor behind the front seats just in case. You dont even see it there. I also did rig up the zip tue backup plan though!. Good luck, just be patient with the tool wait til it feels like its in the right place...it should have some tension that feels kinds like spring tension, it shouldnt feel like its digging into the underside of the hood!
(pop into the channel where the latch release is, by pivoting up and over the side of the big square bracket, then in twisting the other way push the mechanism over)
then I got the passenger side right away. I now keep the tool in the car along the floor behind the front seats just in case. You dont even see it there. I also did rig up the zip tue backup plan though!. Good luck, just be patient with the tool wait til it feels like its in the right place...it should have some tension that feels kinds like spring tension, it shouldnt feel like its digging into the underside of the hood!
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 463
Likes: 2
From: Wausau WI
I got the hood open today. The cable wasn't broken. There was a nut 7/16 or smaller in the whole keepin it from opening. I don't know where it came from. It is so weird. I went through the plastice wheel well. with the tool. I took the right front tire off.
