I can't open the hood of my car...

The only thing I can tell is that the cable is still attached to the handle, and I also tried pushing down the hood.

Dealer in Melbourne says 51 dollars for the cable and 34 dollars for the latch.

matt

Can you hear/feel the hood unlatch when you pull the inside handle?
Sometimes mine will unlatch but it doesn't release. I can smack it just above the latch mechanism and it will release. Just like Fonzie.

Have somebody else hold the release back while you wiggle the hood. Having it fully released while you do the wiggling will probably do the trick.

Once you get it open lubricate the latch and catch.

Fixed!

having the release held open while pushing down the hood caused to release. the latch was very rusted and it did not move well, the cable obviously was fine. I lubricated it with silicone spray, hopefully that was a good choice.

thanks

matt

Silicone spray will work fine for the time being, but with time will dry up and make it worse. Just straight oil is the best lubricant.. like in those handy little squirt bottles. Yeah, squirt some 30w on there, or even some gear lube if you are a RWD guy...

If you have the time to spare, take the latch mechanism off the car (scribe your bolt locations so you can line it back up in a jiffy) then soak it in kerosene, scrub it down with a brush, then lube it up. (thin smear of grease on the latch hook, light oil on the pins.

Hood latches accumulate a lot of grit and the grease on the striker just attracts it. Just a dab will do ya.

I have same problem getting the hood to release, I have found areas saying it can be done manually, but no says how. Just refers me to a forum. Did you find out how to open manuaaly? New parts won't help if can't open it. Thanks
mkey

Why wont it open? Is the cable broke, is the latch jammed, is the handle broken? What year is your car?