Hood on Vehicle will not open!!??

[Mayfly]

Ok,

So yesterday I went and picked up a therm and a new blower motor and was going to put it in. Heat wasn't working so I narrowed it down to those two items. Anyways, went to get started and the hood won't open. It was always a bit tough but always opened and now it will not open at all, it won't pop.

Any idea?? I've been in there with a flashlight and screwdrivers and can't get anything to give.

[backwoods]

Tim,

There are a couple of things you can try.

1) pull on the release in the cab and listen for the mechanical movement on the front of the hood when the release moves.  Is there any way you can pull it out and tie the hood release in the extended position?  Then go to the front of the hood and push down and release quickly on the nose of the hood.  Often times it will release it.

2) with the hood release tied and pulled all the way out, gently take a flat blade screwdriver and pry up between the hood and the radiator area.  It may very well release the hood.  You may want to wrap the screwdriver in cloth so it doesnt mar the finish.

[Spinach]

Backwoods suggestions usually do the trick. Having someone pull the release and someone else tapping/prying the front of the hood usually works too. The trick is to make sure the cable on the release is extended, sometimes a vice grip on the cable is necessary to extend it out.

[Mayfly]

We've tried everything.....I could not get it to pop.

Driving me nuts.

Maybe I will try a vice......afraid of breaking the cable though. Then I am in trouble.

[Spinach]

We've tried everything.....I could not get it to pop.

Driving me nuts.

Maybe I will try a vice......afraid of breaking the cable though. Then I am in trouble.

No, then just leave the vice always attached, I've seen plenty of vehicles with broken releases and vice grips on the cable. Next spring you can always run a new hood release cable, they are not too expensive.

I can stop over later today on the way home to get it open for ya.

[Mayfly]

We've tried everything.....I could not get it to pop.

Driving me nuts.

Maybe I will try a vice......afraid of breaking the cable though. Then I am in trouble.

No, then just leave the vice always attached, I've seen plenty of vehicles with broken releases and vice grips on the cable. Next spring you can always run a new hood release cable, they are not too expensive.

I can stop over later today on the way home to get it open for ya.

Maybe we should just meet over at Randy's later this evening??

[Randy Kaar]

that will work too!  you guys let me know.

randy

[deadeye]

Tim,
Forget the darn thing and just go hunting.   
I'm a little confused about you statement about narrowing it down to thermostat or blower motor. It should be pretty obvious is the blower motor isn't working. 

[Mayfly]

It should be pretty obvious is the blower motor isn't working. 

 


Good Point.......

[Randy Kaar]

i got the cutting torch ready! we will get that sucker open.

should be no problem getting it open without the torch..

randy

[Mayfly]

i got the cutting torch ready! we will get that sucker open.

should be no problem getting it open without the torch..

randy

Sounds good.

[jjawz]

I've had this happen before with an old Explorer, basically all i did was beat the loving crap out of the hood with my fist above the latch mechanism.  You can also try spraying a penetrating lubricant on the hood latch mechanism to try and loosen any parts... And then repeat the beating.

[Mayfly]

I've had this happen before with an old Explorer, basically all i did was beat the loving crap out of the hood with my fist above the latch mechanism.  You can also try spraying a penetrating lubricant on the hood latch mechanism to try and loosen any parts... And then repeat the beating.

So once you got it open what happened the next time you closed it??

[Randy Kaar]

once its open, we can see whats wrong. maybe a adjustment
or some lube.

randy

[JohnWester]

ok, ok, cutting torches... cars... engines... I think you need someone standing around watching you holding a beer in his hand.  I volunteer for that.  what time tonight?

[Mayfly]

7 ish

[Randy Kaar]

okay

randy

[JohnWester]

are you right by hazel park?
I am going to woodbury verizon store to get a new cell... i'll pop over after

[Mayfly]

Sounds like a good time....i'm sure with all of us there we can pry it open!

[Randy Kaar]

i got some big A$$ pry bars! 

randy

[Spinach]

On my way now.

[Randy Kaar]

well after we got the engine hoist and pry bars, plus the woodbury
high school football team...  we got the hood open. went pretty good..
 

randy

[Mayfly]

Thanks guys...It is working perfect now. Especially after lubing it up a bit, Thanks John.

Put that blower motor in tonight and it blows great! Kind of a pain in the ass.

No heat yet though.................

[GirlGuide]

...Don't forget to add that blinker fluid tonight Tim!! 

~gg

[JohnWester]

...Don't forget to add that blinker fluid tonight Tim!! 

~gg

you're not far off there GG...

ADD SOME FRICKEN ANTI-FREEZE YOU FREAK!!!

[Randy Kaar]

i assume you filled the radiator, check the upper radiator
hose when it is cold. if it starts getting warm right away
you will need a thermastat. check the hoses that go to the
heater core. they should both be hot, one a tad cooler.

randy

[Joe]

Tough crowd.

Tim. You still stopping over for those cards?

[Mayfly]

I put antifreeze in there but it only took a cup so that is not the issue. And yes i let it cycle through and filled the resevoir. Going to do the thermostat today.

[Randy Kaar]

John said the radiator was empty, maybe John needs glasses.

randy

[Mayfly]

John said the radiator was empty, maybe John needs glasses.

randy

That is what I said. I could see the level when we looked with the light bit for some reason he could not...Oh well. Hope its the thermostat, easy enough job.