Hi, All..The hood on my son's 91 RS is stuck shut...I clamped the release pull inside the car, climbed under, saw that the cable was moving ok..removed clamp, pushed release handle, back in, crawled under again, and the cable is 'at slack', in other words, the latch is pulled already to the point it should be released, yet it isn't .do these latches freeze alot?? we've been fighting this since he's owned it....I can see the bolt that holds the latch loop to the underside of the hood..i might be able to get a flex socket to get to it on the end of an extender bar...can any'yall tell me what size that bolt head is??? I'm ready to grab the sawzall.....if I get it open, it's hood pins from here!!!

Dana Flaherty
Pembroke, Ma

 

Just had this happen to me on Saturday. The cable pulls a release, allowing the hold that grabs the hood to move. Have you tried pulling on the handle, holding it pulled as far as you can, and then have someone lift it? If that doesn't work, or if you don't have help (like me), I was able to remove the splash shield, which you've done if you can see the bolts. Figure out which part is moving when you pull the cable, then feel for the part holding the hood bar. You should be able to pull the cable and push on the hood part from under it at the same time. If it's so stuck it won't budge, I believe those bolts are 13 mm. When you get it off, take the latch off, clean it up good until everything moves freely, and lubricate well. That's what got me through this weekend. Good luck.

 

Had a similar problem with my friends IROC-Z. Wouldn't open so tried we he drove the car around the block and the hood popped open. We tried prying it loose prior to this with no luck. Once the hood was opened, we adjusted the grommets by raising it higher.

 

that happened to me too. my friend happened to lean in the hood and it opened right up. he put pressure on the hood right above the drivers side headlights

 

Yeh, if you push down a bit and have someone pull the lever, it usually works.
When you get it open, use some brake cleaner to clean all the built-up gunk from the latch to enable everything to move freely.

 

Try this, it worked for me:

- Pull handle so the hood latch is open
- Pull up on one corner of the hood
- While pulling, smack the hood sharply right above the latch

Never fails

 

Just noticed something on my broken hood latch. The spring that is on there should be attached to TWO parts of the latch mechanism. I picked one up at a wrecker, and noticed that mine (broken) only has the spring attached to the part of the latch that holds the cable tight.

 

I just had this problem with my new vert. If you crawl under the front end you can reach up behind the mechanism. Then you can pull the little hook toward the left front which will release the hood. While your holding the little lever to the left have someone push down a little and then pull up and mine popped right free. The cable probably has too much slack and isn't pulling it far enough to open it.

 

My hood has never "popped open" since I've had the car. I pull the handle and hear a faint click. I then walk around front and push down on the hood and let up. It then "pops up" and can be opened normally.

 

I've heard this one a few times, and it works quite often. After you pull the hood latch, and it doesn't pop, slam the drivers door, it might pop the hood. Might work, might not. From there adjust as many have said above.

 

sounds like my 88 gmc ...lol.....if i pop the hood i just walk around to the front and give it a little love tap over where the latch is and it pops right up every time ive been to lazy to adjust it i guess i need to do that today

 

Then, after you get it released....

clean it!!, grease it, line it up properly... and you shouldn't have any more problems (well for a little while)

I've been pulling my drivers front fender off regularly recently, and just lifting the hood up to take the fender out, and i don't always bolt it back down properly, so the hood isn't lined up, so I pull the latch, push the latch, then go smack the hood, but when it's lined up it works fine.

But I spent a good time cleaning it, and then lubed it up.