Stuck hood - which cable?
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 139
Likes: 3
From: Rockland County NY
Stuck hood - which cable?
1996 - I have a stuck hood on the driver side. Can someone tell me if it is the left or right cable on the underdash pull lever (maybe they are reversed)? I haven't spent much time with it yet but I did try a pliers on the left side cable but no luck. The right side cable seems to have pulled loose from the base and I don't want to make it worse. How hard can I pull the cable?
Thanks.
Thanks.
Drifting
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 1,970
Likes: 21
From: Denville NJ
I can't give you any help with the cables but I do have the instructions for using the special tool used to release the hood latch which enables you to open the hood without using the cables at all. Send me a PM if the link below doesn't work and I can email them to you.
http://temp.corvetteforum.net/c4/cg7...structions.pdf
http://temp.corvetteforum.net/c4/cg7...structions.pdf
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 139
Likes: 3
From: Rockland County NY
Thanks. I've had the car a couple years and I'm not a big do it yourself'er but I was going to replace the serpentine belt when this happened.
Since I don't have the tool or have another car to see what it really looks like in there, it seems like an almost impossible job. Why can't a hard straight piece of metal be used?
I'm going to order the manual now in case I need it in the future. Do you know if the manual has a better picture so that I would actually be able to figure this out?
Since I don't have the tool or have another car to see what it really looks like in there, it seems like an almost impossible job. Why can't a hard straight piece of metal be used?
I'm going to order the manual now in case I need it in the future. Do you know if the manual has a better picture so that I would actually be able to figure this out?
Race Director
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 18,725
Likes: 709
From: Bergen County, NJ
Originally Posted by barry96
Since I don't have the tool or have another car to see what it really looks like in there, it seems like an almost impossible job. Why can't a hard straight piece of metal be used?
That happened to me on the passenger side, I had to take the wheel & wheel well off, reach up with a chisel to release the latch.
Drifting
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 1,970
Likes: 21
From: Denville NJ
Originally Posted by barry96
Thanks. I've had the car a couple years and I'm not a big do it yourself'er but I was going to replace the serpentine belt when this happened.
Since I don't have the tool or have another car to see what it really looks like in there, it seems like an almost impossible job. Why can't a hard straight piece of metal be used?
I'm going to order the manual now in case I need it in the future. Do you know if the manual has a better picture so that I would actually be able to figure this out?
Since I don't have the tool or have another car to see what it really looks like in there, it seems like an almost impossible job. Why can't a hard straight piece of metal be used?
I'm going to order the manual now in case I need it in the future. Do you know if the manual has a better picture so that I would actually be able to figure this out?
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 139
Likes: 3
From: Rockland County NY
There are lots of posts opening a stuck hood and the tool required. I found this most useful:
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/showthread.php?t=573980
It describes how to build your own tool. I did it so that I could at least understand what the process is. The 1.5 inch bend the the 12.25 inch marker measurements are key. But without having one side open and having a small view of what to do in you don't have another 'vet around, it would be pretty tough to figure this one out.
In any case, I used a 3/16 inch bar and bend the end but that weakened the metal and it snapped as I tried to turn it. I was able to do the passenger side in seconds once I knew what I was doing.
So I went back to the hardware store and happend to see a cheapo towel rod with a 1/4 bar that seemed pretty stiff ($5). I will snap off the mounting brackets which will leave me with a 'C' shaped rod rather than an 'S' shaped one but that won't make a difference since now I know what I'm doing.
My problem now is that it looks like the latch is pretty stuck so I have to figure out how to get WD40 sprayed into that area.
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/showthread.php?t=573980
It describes how to build your own tool. I did it so that I could at least understand what the process is. The 1.5 inch bend the the 12.25 inch marker measurements are key. But without having one side open and having a small view of what to do in you don't have another 'vet around, it would be pretty tough to figure this one out.
In any case, I used a 3/16 inch bar and bend the end but that weakened the metal and it snapped as I tried to turn it. I was able to do the passenger side in seconds once I knew what I was doing.
So I went back to the hardware store and happend to see a cheapo towel rod with a 1/4 bar that seemed pretty stiff ($5). I will snap off the mounting brackets which will leave me with a 'C' shaped rod rather than an 'S' shaped one but that won't make a difference since now I know what I'm doing.
My problem now is that it looks like the latch is pretty stuck so I have to figure out how to get WD40 sprayed into that area.
Pro
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 718
Likes: 0
From: W.V.C. Utah
Originally Posted by Wayne88
You are right, that tool is almost impossible to use, IMO.
That happened to me on the passenger side, I had to take the wheel & wheel well off, reach up with a chisel to release the latch.
That happened to me on the passenger side, I had to take the wheel & wheel well off, reach up with a chisel to release the latch.
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