1987 Chevy Silverado - Hood Release Cable Broke - Can't open hood?

[Mike Phillips]

1987 Chevy Silverado - Hood Release Cable Broke - Can't open hood?


Went to open the hood and the hood release handle pulled out like normal but I heard a noise from under the hood and now the hood won't open and the handle pull out and pushes in and nothing happens.

My guess is something has come undone or broke  at the hood latch cable release mechanism.

I guess the next step is to remove the grill to somehow jimmy the latch open to see what's broke and then replace it.

Anyone been there and done that before that has some tips?

[Mike Phillips]

Besides the recent hood release issue my truck has been running great ever since I switched over to running nothing but premium in it.

[frotosride]

I know this is going to sound really simple but I have had this issue a million times but assuming the lead bead didn't slid then try having someone pulling the release and you tapping the center of the hood with your fist. I'm going out side to try and breakin under my hood without pulling the cord

[Captkaos]

Ditto on the above, and if the cable didn't break lube the latch assembly well.

[Mike Phillips]

Tried the suggestion before I posted this and nada... didn't work.

Checked and cable is fine on the handle side, it slides back and forth just fine.  Somethinig is wrong on the hood or latch end.

I'll remove the grill tomorrow and see if I can jimmy the hood open and then figure out what's broke.  Will take some pictures of what works to help others in the future that might have this happen to them.

[frotosride]

Incase you haven't already figured this out. there isn't any access to the latch from the front of the truck..not even with the grill removed. if you have electric fans and no shroud you may be able to get to it from under the hood but I honestly didn't feel like sliding up there. One thing to try that won't damage anything is to drill a dole through the upper core support on the driver side of the of the latch and you can push a screwdriver up to manually try and push the release while you got the grill out.

[Mike Phillips]

Incase you haven't already figured this out. there isn't any access to the latch from the front of the truck..not even with the grill removed.

Yep... that's what it looks like after looking through the grill.  No opening anywhere...
 

One thing to try that won't damage anything is to drill a dole through the upper core support on the driver side of the of the latch and you can push a screwdriver up to manually try and push the release while you got the grill out.

That's the plan so far...

When I get to this I'll be sure to post some pictures of the fix.

Lesson learned.  After buying a used truck from someone else, inspect closely the hood release cable and hood latch assembly and fix anything that looks worn or about to break or replace with new all together.

Also, take the preventitive step of drilling a hole in the appropiate place while you can still open the hood in case this ever happens to you.

What a hassle...

Thanks for the help guys...

[thirsty]

Mike, I have had to open a hood like that. What I did was pry up the hood with a couple of bars and reach in with a 1/4" drive to unbolt the latch assembly.

[thirsty]

After posting how I opened one, I realized that I made it sound simple. It isn't that easy so I went out to the garage to look at mine so I could give some better info.

There are two bolts on the face of the latch for adjusting. These are the ones that you need to get at.
Use a 1/4" drive ratchet and extensions with a 1/2" socket.
If you have a wobble extension and/or a swivel that might make it less painful.
You will need someone to pry the hood for you.
The hood has to be pried up only on the side for the bolt you are taking out. Then pry the other side for the other bolt.
Getting the socket onto the bolt heads is frustrating. There is not much room to work with.

I hope you get it open.

[DnStClr]

Can you bend a wire like a hook and slide it under the hood edge to grab the lever that releases the latch? You'd have to turn the hook 90 degrees to grab the lever.

[zieg85]

Here goes,  picture one is the latch assembly.  As thirsty said it is doable but you may scuff the paint on the hood.  If you have an all metal hangers, the kind that the uniform places use, you can straighten it out and put a hook on the end.  Try and hook the back of the latch and give it a tug.  I got my truck open in about 30 seconds.

[Mike Phillips]

Thanks Carl and everyone for the help.  Been kind of busy lately but today while waiting for Stacy I used a wire clothes hanger and was able to hook the spring loaded latch then give it a strong yank and shazam!  She opened up!

(Sorry for the lousy camera pics)







Haven't looked too much at where the cable ball attaches at the latch as I didn't have a step stool handy to get up high enough to get a good look at it but it looks like the cable/ball simply came off the latch.  I need to investigate "why" it would come apart and then address the root cause of the problem. 

At least I can get the hood open and closed for now.

Thanks again and I'll take some better pictures with a real camera to show the fix in case this ever happens to someone else in the future.

Mike

[jaredts]

Glad you got it!  Your pictures are actually not bad at all.