hood wont open

**jimmers** · 06-12-05, 07:10 PM

my hood wont open.....i pulled the level and only one side opened. No matter how hard i pull the cable the one side wont open. Any ideas how to open it?? Please help!!!

**SPANISHVETTS** · 06-12-05, 07:25 PM

Maybe this thread will help

**rrubel** · 06-12-05, 08:11 PM

Last article in the thread (one of my posts) has this important link:

http://www.gordonkillebrew.com/pages/800740/index.htm

This is the guy who invented the hood-opening tool when he worked for GM.

However, one other thing to look for: there are two separate cables attached to the hood-open handle, one for each side of the hood. On Mad-Mic's car, one cable had broken AT THE HANDLE. We looked at the back of it, and there it was - a pair of vise grips is sufficient to pull it and unlatch the other side. He hasn't bothered getting it replaced yet... You can see the cable just by kneeling down next to the side of the dash. and wiggling the hood handle.
[RICHR]

**Ken** · 06-12-05, 08:15 PM

You might try closing the open side and releasing the latch again. Is it sitting level?

Mine stuck on me this morning because the front was skewed slighty while sitting on an incline.

**jimmers** · 06-12-05, 08:22 PM

i tried the tool and pulling the wire with vise grips. No luck both times....I can feel the wire under the hood with my fingers. I went in through the wheel well, and can toucn it but it wont open.

**jimmers** · 06-12-05, 09:13 PM

well i got it open...somehow. Is it easy to replace the cables? Do i need to buy ones specically for a corvette or can i just get the cable and cut it to my lengths? And lastly the little metal ends that go on the cables can you just solder them on? They are those cylinder ends?? I hope you guys know what i mean. Thanks!

**wishuwerehere82** · 06-12-05, 09:23 PM

Yes, it's very easy to replace the cable between the two latches. Take off the cotter pins and replace the cable. I did mine a few years ago, and got the cable from Mid-America.

**PLRX** · 06-12-05, 09:33 PM

Wait until it cools down (night) and adjust the hood latch. It will Open !!

**rrubel** · 06-12-05, 09:51 PM

Now that it's open, make sure you put some heavy-duty lithium grease on the latches and the locking mechanism. Half the time a hood won't open, it's because it's just plain stuck. I try to grease mine about every 6 months. White lithium door hinge grease works fine.
[RICHR]

**jimmers** · 06-12-05, 10:35 PM

Originally Posted by rrubel

Now that it's open, make sure you put some heavy-duty lithium grease on the latches and the locking mechanism. Half the time a hood won't open, it's because it's just plain stuck. I try to grease mine about every 6 months. White lithium door hinge grease works fine.
[RICHR]

thats actually a really good idea. I will do that! Thanks