Hood Latch Cable...Broken? Unattached?

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mwood5

mwood5

10 Year 15 Year
Joined
Nov 27, 2006
Threads
27
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164
Location
Dallas
Why is it always something? I've been squirreling away a bit of money for a paint job and I swear I'm going to be nickel and dimed on little things that continue to go wrong.
Last night I was going to check under the hood as my idle doesn't quite feel right and the hood release cable just pulled with no tension. I'm sure it either broke or came loose.

I see there are a few posts on some tool I need to fabricate and such, but what am I trying to do? Am I simply looking to "pull up" on the lever or am I trying to replicate the cable pull first? I don't know if the "pull up" latch would work if the cable isn't pulled first....obviously, never done that.
So, if I know what I'm shooting for, I'll be able to study the pics on the other posts to figure out what I'm doing...or going to do.

m
 
Cable latch first

You'll have to get the cable latch released first. The hand release is the second catch on the latch. Try pushing lightly on the hood(downwards) while a helper pulls the release. It sounds like the latch is slightly stuck. Also look under the dash to see if the cable is still on the lever. If you can see the cable, pull it by hand or with pliers to see if it comes out of the cable shield(broken cable). Hopefully that isn't the case.
 
Hey Meat,

You're a better mechanic than me....not saying much, but I have already spent about 15 minutes just staring through my grill at the latch...or what I can see of it and can't figure out how to get at the three screws. I've got my ratchet, extension with swivel and it just won't get there through the grill openings.
I'm thinking I need to go to HD to get some rebar. Are the notches absolutely necessary? I'm at work and only have a file with me....I'm wondering if it'll work without...I know it's probably a matter of just catching it right without it slipping off.
Also, just to make sure...I'm shooting for the hole in the middle in those pics (OK....i know, i know....insert joke here) and then just trying to push the lever up?

m
 
I used a 1/4" drive socket and a 6" wobble head extension. You might have to pull up on the hood a little to get the socket through. I tried the other method for a about 30 min before I grabbed my sockets and had it open in less than a minute. Good luck.
 
Lewy said:
I used a 1/4" drive socket and a 6" wobble head extension. You might have to pull up on the hood a little to get the socket through. I tried the other method for a about 30 min before I grabbed my sockets and had it open in less than a minute. Good luck.
Click to expand...

I used the same setup as Lewy... Also, my grille was a little loose so this helped.

ML
 
mwood5 said:
Hey Meat,

You're a better mechanic than me....not saying much, but I have already spent about 15 minutes just staring through my grill at the latch...or what I can see of it and can't figure out how to get at the three screws. I've got my ratchet, extension with swivel and it just won't get there through the grill openings.
I'm thinking I need to go to HD to get some rebar. Are the notches absolutely necessary? I'm at work and only have a file with me....I'm wondering if it'll work without...I know it's probably a matter of just catching it right without it slipping off.
Also, just to make sure...I'm shooting for the hole in the middle in those pics (OK....i know, i know....insert joke here) and then just trying to push the lever up?

m
Click to expand...

I just pulled up a little on the front corner of the hood, slipped in the socket/extension, went back towards the center (it was a little tight) and went at it.
 
Got it...thanks to all.
I tried the homemade tool, but used 2/8" threaded rod and ended up getting it stuck in the latch...not a good move by me.
I then moved to the three latch bolts. I too was able to pry the hood up a little as well as the little bit of play in my grill and was able to get the ratchet in there. Easy as pie. Just for future reference to others....it's a 10mm that does it. That might save someone from a bit of eye-balling.....

Just to follow up...I'd never put much thought into the hood release cable, but now that I look at it, there is a lot of slack in it. Is there an adjustment? I don't have my FSM here at work, but from looking through last night, don't remember any adjustment.
Hey, there's one idea...another FSM for the office. Haha....



m
 
There should not be much slack... Does the spring on the latch have plenty of tension? The problem that mine had was that the plastic clip (grommet ???) on the latch end of cable that holds the cable housing unto the radiator support got lost causing the housing to move (instead of the cable) when I would try to open the hood. Hope this makes sense.
 
Hey Meat....

I'm a bicycle guy as well, so I do understand cables like this. On mine, I just went out and looked....there isn't anything holding the cable housing onto the bracket. Not sure if that alone is causing all the slack issues, but it needs to be looked at. I'm about to check out SOR's website to see if the little part is available. I might just grab a spare cable as well in the event that this one has stretched and is about to break.

m
 
Mine is definitely missing the plastic piece that holds the cable housing onto the bracket. Is that piece available? Would it come with the bracket or the cable? Or, is this a cruiserparts.net item since they'll pull whatever i need.

m
 
It is available from what I recall... I just fixed it with a homemade rig. I'll send you a pic later tonight...
 
here you go mwood, I just used a piece of wire and a ty-wrap (sp ??) It has worked fine for the last year or so...
IMG_1189.webp
IMG_1190.webp
IMG_1193.webp
 
Thanks man, I'll try that as well to see if that'll last me a bit. I'll add a new cable to the bottom of my wish list for now....

m
 
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