Topic: hood release
in Forum: C4 Body
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having problem trying to open my hood ...pulling down on the release but will not open ...do not want to break the plastic release mechinism ... thanks
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Duncanville, TX - USA
Joined: 3/18/2009
Posts: 2246
Vette(s): 1985 Coupe-L98/Auto,Bright Red/Carmine.
1974 Coupe-L48/4speed, Medium Red Metallic/Black Deluxe.
One of the cables may have stretched, or broken. Or may have come loose from the latch. Hard to say. There is a nifty tool you can buy to get the hood open if the cables are damaged.
http://www.mamotorworks.com/corvette.html?frame=3.948&searched=hood%20release%20tool
Mid Am shows to be out of them on the website, but...they DO have the instructions available to download, or view...
Other suppliers may have them in stock.
http://www.mamotorworks.com/corvette.html?frame=3.948&searched=hood%20release%20tool
Mid Am shows to be out of them on the website, but...they DO have the instructions available to download, or view...
Other suppliers may have them in stock.
Joel Adams 
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"Money can't buy happiness -- but somehow it's more comforting to cry in a CORVETTE than in a Kia"
A friend of mine had this problem with the right latch not releasing. This was on his 92. I have the tool but it is hard to know just how to insert it. We used my 84 as a reference. Once the toll was inserted and turned slightly, i sort of played with the hood and we had success. It turns out the cable had popped up from the receiver of the latch. What he then was take an electrical one-hole strap and install it, using and existing bolt, so it goes over the cable to keep it from popping out again. He painted it black so it is hardly noticed. If we didn't have my car as an example, it would have been even more frustrating.
Good Luck.
If you have a speciality Corvette shop near you, you might try them, they could open it for about what you would pay for the tool. If you get the tool, be careful, I have a friend who cracked his windshield using one. Didn't quite follow the directions and got too enthusiastic on his attempt. Operator error. 
Sorry this won't help you now opening the hood but after you get it open you might want to try this for the future. I read this on Corvette Forum.com
Cut two pieces of BRAIDED NYLON TWINE about 3 feet in length. The twine diameter should be about the diameter of a pencil lead. Burn the ends using a match to prevent unraveling. Locate the latch mechanism. You will find it attached to the cable end. Secure the nylon twine to the mechanism so that it can be pulled inboard and across the windshield. After you have tested opening the latch, just coil up the twine near the edge, and under the hood, so that it can be accessed with your fingers, if it is ever needed. The twine usually comes in white. If you want it black to be less conspicuous, just dye it. The use of braided nylon twine is recommended because of its\' strength and suppleness (will coil nicely). A routine application of white grease to the cable will help prevent breakage.
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San Tan Valley, AZ - USA
Joined: 11/29/2009
Posts: 90
Vette(s): 87 Red Coupe, not as pretty, had 213G miles, great running engine; got 20-21 around town, 27-28 on hwy; I got to drive a Vette, every day for 6 yrs. It was my first; so now I know what the fuss is all about. (Sold it 2015 for $3000, still ran great.)
I've had a problem opening my hood, on occasion. Tried turning the tensioner adjustments, but tightning them made it worse. Then couldn't get the hood open to loosen them. Solution was to pull the latch down, then reach up with needle nose pliers and pull the cables one at a time, while your grandson (or other fine volunteer) pulls up on the hood, one side at a time. There are two cables attached to that plastic latch above your left knee. Pull each one in turn and it acts as a manual release for the hood. Once open, then try adjusting the tensioners and grease the latches, etc. Hope this helps.
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San Tan Valley, AZ - USA
Joined: 11/29/2009
Posts: 90
Vette(s): 87 Red Coupe, not as pretty, had 213G miles, great running engine; got 20-21 around town, 27-28 on hwy; I got to drive a Vette, every day for 6 yrs. It was my first; so now I know what the fuss is all about. (Sold it 2015 for $3000, still ran great.)
Here's one more tip, though I haven't tried it (but it sounds like it might help in some cases, where pushing down on the hood while the release latch is pulled could work where the latch is tight or stiff and the latch can't pull the cable or the cable can't pull the latch's slide far enough without the pressure off, which is what happens when you push down).
Anyway, this tip was posted July 15, 2010, on C4VR by an eddie20890, so credit due to him, but a second life is ripe. eddie said:
it may be hung up. first i would close the hood completely and try pushing down on it and then release the hood. they do make a tool to do it but basically all you need is a rod with a hook that you can slide in the locking mechanism and grab the end of the cable and pull the locking jaws manually. mine has gotten stuck if i didn't pull up on the hood right and doing what i said to start always worked.
Here's a writeup with pictures from another forum. Did the same thing to mine "just in case". COst about $5 material and 20 minutes work.
I also installed the emergency release cables on my 84. I used 2 lengths of plastic coated steel cable and made a loop at the ends using standard cable crimping connectors or whatever they are called. Another trick I have found is to move the car to a level area or vice versa. The tiny bit of flex in the body might be enough to allow the hood to release. That has worked for me.
install the emer....cables it works . after you get it opened. if you buy the tool be carefull with the windshild.....you can do it..
in Forum: C4 Body
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