Cant pop the hood

[Mest30]

It seems as though the hood release is broken. I have tried countless times to open the hood. I'm not too concerned about fixing it right now but is there any other way to open the hood and if so, how? Thanks.

[88LTDCV351]

What I did was use the tip of the tire iron to nudge the hood up just a bit.

http://www.mercurymarauder.net/forums/showthread.php?t=73524

I tried oiling and WD40ing the struts but in the end, I bought new hood struts and had them installed.

[MercOut]

Had that problem a few weeks ago. Have someone press down on the hood while you use the hood release

[Mest30]

Neither of those things will help. It's like the cable or something snapped. I was hoping I might be able to get to the hood release from underneath the car.

[tbone]

What I did was use the tip of the tire iron to nudge the hood up just a bit.

http://www.mercurymarauder.net/forums/showthread.php?t=73524

I tried oiling and WD40ing the struts but in the end, I bought new hood struts and had them installed.

Use a spatula instead. No scratches.

[babbage]

Use a spatula instead. No scratches.

Thats a good tip. I remember at the yard there was a P71 that has a broken hood release cable - I just busted open the fiberglass on top the grill (sure felt weird doing it the wrong way)

Good to see you're still around Mest!

[tbone]

Neither of those things will help. It's like the cable or something snapped. I was hoping I might be able to get to the hood release from underneath the car.

You might have to bust the grille to get at it. Only $75 for an aftermarket replacement.

[DOOM]

My worst nightmare!!! :eek: :eek: :eek:

[Mr. Man]

I use a wooden stick I fabricated so I don't scratch up the paint.

First make sure you are on a level surface and try that. Sometime that's enough to overcome the physics. If that doesn't work have someone pull and hold the cable release in the car while you push down on the hood. This usually works.

Once it's open you are going to need to grease up the locking mechanism. The hood release gives up the go when metal starts contacting metal. I use a spray lube like WD-40 to lube up all the parts every month or so.:)

[MERCMAN]

If the hood is unlatched, slide a cloth under a corner and pull it up that way, then adjust your hood bumpers to keep it from happening again :up:

[Mest30]

The hood isn't stuck. When pulling the hood release, it doesn't unlatch. In fact, the hood release lever is extremely loose and can be pulled as far as possible with a pinky finger and no effort. I know all the tricks of how to get the hood open if its stuck. I've tried a lot of the suggestions. I'm 99.9% sure its the cable. So is there no way other than through the grille?

[Spectragod]

The hood isn't stuck. When pulling the hood release, it doesn't unlatch. In fact, the hood release lever is extremely loose and can be pulled as far as possible with a pinky finger and no effort. I know all the tricks of how to get the hood open if its stuck. I've tried a lot of the suggestions. I'm 99.9% sure its the cable. So is there no way other than through the grille?

Not necessarily, look at the hood release, is the cable attached to it? The cable may have come loose from the handle, you can pull the cable with pliers, vice grips etc. If the cable is still attached inside, you can most likely fabricate a tool to reach between the teeth of the grill and pull the release lever that the cable is attached to.

I'm not real sure about some of the people that think you need to break the header panel or grill out, but there are other ways, finesse not force, generally works much better.

[Mest30]

Didn't think to check to see if the cable is attached to the hood release lever. I'll check when I get home. Thanks.

[VMARAUDER]

Neither of those things will help. It's like the cable or something snapped. I was hoping I might be able to get to the hood release from underneath the car.
It depends on where it snapped, try removing the kick panel to see it it broke inside or under the hood. Good luck but do not break the grille

[Mest30]

Noob alert. What's a kick panel?

[tbone]

If the cable is broken and can't be pulled by pliers at the release handle, how can he get to the latch without going through the grille?

That is the $640 Million dollar question.

[jwibbity]

If the cable is broken and can't be pulled by pliers at the release handle, how can he get to the latch without going through the grille?

That is the $640 Million dollar question.

very long needle nose pliers????:confused::confused: :confused: through the grille????

[Spectragod]

If the cable is broken and can't be pulled by pliers at the release handle, how can he get to the latch without going through the grille?

That is the $640 Million dollar question.

Make a long hook tool out of an old antenna whip.

[tbone]

Make a long hook tool out of an old antenna whip.

The latch would have to be pulled left/right I would think. Not sure how this would work. Have you done this before?

[B.C. Bake]

WOW, But I'm still waiting to here if the cable came loose in the cab, that would be much easier than under the hood.:confused:

[Spectragod]

The latch would have to be pulled left/right I would think. Not sure how this would work. Have you done this before?

It'll need pulled towards the drivers side of the car. Additionally you may be able to get it from underneath, I have done it in the past, it beats the hell out of breaking parts to open the hood.

[1stMerc]

You can get to it from under the front of the car, but i don't think you want to jack up the car to do so.

[tbone]

It'll need pulled towards the drivers side of the car. Additionally you may be able to get it from underneath, I have done it in the past, it beats the hell out of breaking parts to open the hood.

I just stated it as a possibility, not the final solution. Jeesh.

I still don't think your solution is possible.

[Spectragod]

I just stated it as a possibility, not the final solution. Jeesh.

I still don't think your solution is possible.

Your right, I'm probably wrong. OP, I would go ahead and bust the grill out and punch a hole in the header panel, that should allow ample access to the latch assembly. :rolleyes:

Sorry, I couldn't resist being a smart a**...:D

See, I know people do this kind of thing, hell, my sister locked her keys in her car, instead of walking 1/8 of a mile to her house, her and her husband thought it would be a good idea to bust the lock out of the door...... with a brick.

[tbone]

So, how do you shove a coat hanger in through the grille and magically pull it to the right? I would love to see that. And I never said anything about "punching a hole" in the header panel.

Why don't you post a video of the procedure and enlighten us all on your expertise in this matter? Seriously, it would be very helpful.

[Spectragod]

So, how do you shove a coat hanger in through the grille and magically pull it to the right? I would love to see that. And I never said anything about "punching a hole" in the header panel.

Why don't you post a video of the procedure and enlighten us all on your expertise in this matter? Seriously, it would be very helpful.

I have no expertise, I never said to use a coat hanger, it would be to flimsy, you will need to use an antenna mast and bend it to make the trip around obstacles.

I never said "you" said anything, but others sure suggested it. There seems to be a lot of defensive people on this board lately. :confused:

I'll get right on a video..................... but don't hold your breath waiting. If someone needs to have a video, maybe the best bet would be to take it to a local shop, I am sure they can get it open.

[Spectragod]

You might have to bust the grille to get at it. Only $75 for an aftermarket replacement.

Oh wait, you did suggest it..............

[tbone]

Oh wait, you did suggest it..............

Yes, I know. But not anything about "punching a hole" in the header panel. See the word "might" in my suggestion about the grille? It's an important word.

Coat hanger? "Sorry I couldn't resist being a smart ***.:D"

Defensive? I don't know. You just seem so upset that I haven't accepted your solution. Please explain how you stick an antenna through the grille and pull it to the right.

[massacre]

You two should get a room lol.

This happened to me on one of my Exploders. The only way I got the hood open was to remove the latch assembly. There are only 2 bolts holding it in. Then I could only get the hood up so far because the cable came up with the hood, it was a huge PITA.

[Ozark Marauder]

Noob alert. What's a kick panel?

Really? ok, its the plastic panel that fits in between the front floor carpeting and the dash, just ahead of the door. the panel where your brake release lever is....called the same on the passenger side....

http://memimage.cardomain.com/member_images/1/web/2425000-2425999/2425701_121_full.jpg

here is where it fits..where the screwdriver is pointing.. this is the passenger side......there is also console kick panels too...I believe that is what's laying on the paper.........:D

OZ

[Spectragod]

Yes, I know. But not anything about "punching a hole" in the header panel. See the word "might" in my suggestion about the grille? It's an important word.

Coat hanger? "Sorry I couldn't resist being a smart ***.:D"

Defensive? I don't know. You just seem so upset that I haven't accepted your solution. Please explain how you stick an antenna through the grille and pull it to the right.

Nope, not defensive, just made a suggestion. If you need more explanation, pop the hood on your MM, remove the inspection cover and take a look, that may help you with your understanding.

[tbone]

Nope, not defensive, just made a suggestion. If you need more explanation, pop the hood on your MM, remove the inspection cover and take a look, that may help you with your understanding.

I know exactly what it looks like.

Just briefly explain how you stick an antenna in there and pull to the right.

[Spectragod]

I know exactly what it looks like.

Just briefly explain how you stick an antenna in there and pull to the right.

You will have to bend the mast. Why the ball busting?:confused:

[tbone]

I just wanted to know how to do it through the grill. It seemed like you were mad I had the audacity to say he "might" have to bust the grille.

It's a moot point anyway. You can reach the latch from under the car with ease. I just tried it.

Peace.;)

[Spectragod]

I just wanted to know how to do it through the grill. It seemed like you were mad I had the audacity to say he "might" have to bust the grille.

It's a moot point anyway. You can reach the latch from under the car with ease. I just tried it.

Peace.;)


It's not a moot point, because I can't reach mine from under the car, there are coolers in the way. I would have to get inventive with a long 1/4 extension and an 8mm socket on a ball swivel. Or bend up an antenna mast, so without knowing whats behind the OP's grille, it's hard to say. You "might" have to do it another way.

So where's your video on how to get at the latch from underneath? I thought that was important for the masses?

FWIW, I'm not mad about anything, I'm just glad you were able to get it worked out without a video.:D

[tbone]

It's not a moot point, because I can't reach mine from under the car, there are coolers in the way. I would have to get inventive with a long 1/4 extension and an 8mm socket on a ball swivel. Or bend up an antenna mast, so without knowing whats behind the OP's grille, it's hard to say. You "might" have to do it another way.

So where's your video on how to get at the latch from underneath? I thought that was important for the masses?

FWIW, I'm not mad about anything, I'm just glad you were able to get it worked out without a video.:D

It's a pretty big space. How many coolers do you have?

I know you would have to bend the antenna. But it seems impossible. Hence the request for a video or detailed instructions.

I"ll post a video of the huge space as soon as you explain your method.;)

[GetMeMyStogie]

If you can get hold of the outer sheath of the cable - either through the grille, reaching up from under the front of the car or maybe just in front of the air intake box - you might be able to break it free from the hood latch, or even snap it open where you've grabbed it. If you can break the outer sheath to expose the remaining inner cable, then you're golden.
The other end of the inner cable should be removable from near the release lever - might as well pull it out all the way and compare it to the length of route from the release lever to the latch under the hood. That should give you an idea of where the cable snapped and how much you have left to work with.

Worst case would be that the inner cable snapped right at the hood latch.

Has anyone tried looking in the shop manual? That usually has some ideas.

[Mest30]

After reading the responses, I came to the conclusion that the cable is most likely not snapped. So I grabbed a crow bar and flashlight, went under the car and messed with it for god knows how long until I got it to pop. Ungodly amounts of wd-40 after I got it open, and it works like new once again.

Oh, and I did try a coat hanger through the grille before going underneath. Definitely didn't work. Thanks for all the help.

[Phrog_gunner]

Your right, I'm probably wrong. OP, I would go ahead and bust the grill out and punch a hole in the header panel, that should allow ample access to the latch assembly. :rolleyes:

Sorry, I couldn't resist being a smart a**...:D

See, I know people do this kind of thing, hell, my sister locked her keys in her car, instead of walking 1/8 of a mile to her house, her and her husband thought it would be a good idea to bust the lock out of the door...... with a brick.


For those of me that aren't smart enough to figure out how to fix something with out destroying it in the process, you could have made a constructive suggestion like using a plasma cutter to cut through the hood around where the latch is allowing the hood to be raised. This would be much a better solution, seeing as how the grille is pretty much obsolete.

[1 Bad Merc]

:popcorn:whistling......

[Haggis]

For those of me that aren't smart enough to figure out how to fix something with out destroying it in the process, you could have made a constructive suggestion like using a plasma cutter to cut through the hood around where the latch is allowing the hood to be raised. This would be much a better solution, seeing as how the grille is pretty much obsolete.

:lol:

Thanks.

[tbone]

For those of me that aren't smart enough to figure out how to fix something with out destroying it in the process, you could have made a constructive suggestion like using a plasma cutter to cut through the hood around where the latch is allowing the hood to be raised. This would be much a better solution, seeing as how the grille is pretty much obsolete.

:confused::confused::confused: Wah?

I was going to suggest just crushing the whole car.

[1 Bad Merc]

:confused::confused::confused: Wah?

I was going to suggest just crushing the whole car.

LOL !!!!!!!! :2thumbs:

[TAKEDOWN]

YESSS... Crush the car and keep the grille intact!

[Haggis]

:confused::confused::confused: Wah?

I was going to suggest just crushing the whole car.

Dibs on the floor mats.