Hood wont pop open?

[roel03]

The latch by the drivers door wont budge at all. Any ideas how to get it open and fix the problem? Car is an S14

[jspaeth]

Are you saying the latch is really hard to pull?

Try pulling on it while someone else pushes down on or pulls up on the hood.

Then once the hood is open, try putting some 3-in-1 oil on the actual springs and latches inside the mechanism itself where the hood latches down.

[roel03]

Yes the latch is really hard to pull and gives no slack at all. Ive tried with someone pushing up and down on the hood and it wont budge.

[epics13]

I think that the cable runs under the driver side fender try to pull the cable itself from there and see if that helps while you have someone pushing down on the hood directly where the latch is, if it opens then dont forget what jspaeth said to do with the oil.

[roel03]

I tried that as well.

A couple days ago I was able to open and close the hood with no resistance.

[tooslick]

the ball at the latch end of the wire probably just came loose off the latch. if you can, remove the grill, open the hood, and re-latch it on or replace the wire/latch.

[bl3ujay07]

My latch by the door is also that way IF you are pulling it straight. On my car, you have to pull it slightly down then out towards you. Mines seem to get stuck on something if trying to pull straight out.

For me, I have to make sure i push the lever back in because it doesn't retract and my hood wont close all the way.

EDIT: I have a s13 though. Dont know if s14 is similar to s13.

[roel03]

I can probably remove the grill as it just uses two tabs. Whats the next step after that? Cant the latch just be unbolted and come up with the hood or no?

[drift213]

just follow to where the cable goe in the latch and pull it from there

[roel03]

I will try everything today and update this thread. Thanks to all for the help.

[aznpoopy]

i had this problem before when my cable frayed. unbolted the whole latching mechanism from the car through the grille, and the assembly came up with the hood.

[besTint]

also, the cable might be getting pinched somewhere keeping it from getting pulled.

[!Zar!]

Check the cable. It could be fraying and not allowing you to get enough tension as you pull it.

[roel03]

Ok the first ideas didnt work so tomorrow I will check it from the wheel well to the latch and see if its getting stuck on something, and if that doesnt work Ill unbolt the whole assembly.

[roel03]

Ok I got the hood to open!

-but-

Now it wont close. It just goes down and springs back up and wont lock.
Now what??

[roel03]

Fixed about a week ago. The cable has extended and was not creating any tension. I replaced it, and now everything is dandy.