ghoastrider1

Ok , I give up, Seems the thingy that pops the hood open may be jammed . Have fished around under there with tool and seems like it caught somewhere( the hood lever thingy) so cant move it over to pop hood open. Question is, is there anyway of getting to it ? I am just about ready to cut the hood enough to access the damn thing. Needs a paint job anyway but reall y don't want to butcher it. Looking like my only option left.

don hall

You can access the latch through the tire well. Just takes time.

https://www.corvetteforum.com/how-to...e-liner-368772

Sid.123

You can open the catches manually with a rod from near the top of the door with it open... there are videos on YouTube what show you how... good luck

just a thought but have you tried pushing down on the bonnet while the catch is pulled... mine used to be very stiff until I greased them all up, now they open very easily

chevyman_ky

i have a 85 i had about the same problem the left side would not come loose, right side would. it would open just a little tried the rod thing through the wheel well would not pop open took a pry bar and pried on it while working cable got it open found out that the latch was cracked holding it got a used latch works good now.

Cyclonite

Are you saying you have the hood popping tool and just can't get it to work? Or were you using "whatever" tool you could find to try and pop it?

Check Youtube, there's a pretty good video of how to use the tool.


You can pay 20+shipping to get one from one of the Vette stores, or go to Lowes, HD, Tractor Supply, etc and spend $5 on some 3/16 steel rod and bend it yourself. Find a buddy with another C4 and open his hood and lay your tool in there to see exactly how far to insert it (I used the lower corner of the windshield for reference) then take it to your car and with a little finesse and patience you'll find the right spot and should be able to move the latch.

ghoastrider1

I have the tool somewhere in the garage and have used it b4. Just cant find it and am using a home made tool. NO, its not the tools fault, the darn thing is jammed. The sweet spot is right at 13 inches from the windshield trim and you can also use 1/4 inch rod... I have both.

hcbph

I actually got one of those when I bought the car but have not had to use it. It's interesting, but in looking at it I wonder if there isn't a better way particularly if the hood is jammed. Remember back to your high school math classes, cut a piece of steel like a 30-60-90 degree triangle and weld a rod onto it between the 60 & 90 degree angles. It looks like you could slide it between the edge of the mount and the release lever and push it forward forcing the lever to release the hood pin.

Once you get the hood open, both fix the existing cable and add some safety release cables so you don't have to do it again.

Good luck.

ghoastrider1

That's the problem, both oem cable AND safety cable broke. That may be why its jammed.

hcbph

I haven't spent a lot of time looking at it but I think that wedge idea makes sense logically to me. Wouldn't cost but a few bucks and a little time to try it out. Sounds like you're pretty much out of other options, what do you have to lose other than the possibility of damaging the hood if you have to cut it?

I do remember someone saying they pulled the inner fender liner but I don't know if that will work the battery in the way but it's another thought.

Good luck.

xrav22

I had my hood stuck and had to remove the liners to get to it. I was adjusting it because drivers side was sticking and I would have to pull up while opening. So I was adjusting and it wedged itself. I went into the wheel well and accessed 2 of the 3 bolts and loosened.
I was able to get my LONG screwdriver up there and press the latch away from the car. I got it open. The cure was to file around the latch to make it nice and round again. Now it pops open.
Good Luck

hcbph

XRav22 just gave me another thought. What about taking off the panel for accessing the battery? Would that give you enough room to get to the hood latch from the bottom (with or without the battery present)?

If nothing else, might get enough room to either stick a bore scope or a cell phone up there and see what's going on with the latch.

One more thought.

A Peter C4

Are you saying that you have manual pull safety cables that come out by the wipers and they also broke along with the factory hood release cable? Something in latch must be broken or jammed.

ghoastrider1

yep. Still haven't got it open. Indy 500 today.. kinda kicks me into wanting to try anything to get it open.

don hall

Remove wheel and liner. Just a lot of screws.