Hood latch cable replacement?

Maybe contact TOYOTA - they should last the life of the car - I've had 30 yr old cars with issues - but never a Hood latch cable issue.

 

It’s not clear to me why this should be a $600 job. In addition to @alanclarkeau's kind suggestion to seek goodwill consideration from Toyota—I agree, this isn’t a part that should wear out with normal usage—I’d suggest trying another Toyota dealer or an independent shop.

The parts are not expensive: as shown in catalog Figure 53-03, Hood Lock & Hinge, the hood lock control cable assembly (part number 53630-47080) has a list price of $34.94, and the hood lock control lever sub-assembly (in black, 53601-52010-C1, or neutral warm gray, 53601-52010-P2) has a list price of $47.58. Due to design changes, both parts might have to be replaced together.

As for labor, one edition of Toyota’s Flat Rate Manual allows 1.0 hours for removal and replacement of the hood lock control cable assembly (operation number 530121; ZVW50 series).

 

You’re welcome, and please feel free.

 

Hmmm - reminds me of a friend who had had a series of BMWs, but tried an AUDI. Took it for it's 3 year service just before it came out of lease (was just out of warranty). Workshop gave her an extensive list of items which needed repair, which horrified her - quite a few $1000s.

As she walked out the workshop, she commented to the Service Manager "I was just about to go up to <SALES> re the lease of a new AUDI - but I'll go back to BMW. "Oh, Madam, I'm sure we could work something out". She went and got a new BMW 4 Series.

 

The cable replacement is an easy job where everything is readily accessible in the ingine compartment and under the dash.

I have included instructions for opening the hood, if this happens and the hood won't open.

First, you must open the hood to examine the cable. The "T" shaped "dog" could have slipped out of the slot in the hood latch release lever. I advised a friend of mine in Florida how to do this and he successfully did it in less than 30 minutes.

It might be a good idea to examine how the cable releases the hood latch on another Toyota.

First, raise the car up on ramps or jackstands.

Remove the engine under cover to gain access to the space between the radiator and the engine.

With a flashlight and laying on your back, find the hood latch and see if the cable end's "dog" has been detached from the slotted end of the release latch.

Having found the slot, use a long screwdriver or a thin metal rod, push the slot with it's end from the bottom until the hood latch releases.

If the "dog" had slipped out of the slot at the end of the hood latch release lever, move the slotted end of the lever toward the driver's side and re hook the cable.

Have a friend pull the hood release and see if it it releases the hood latch.

Tie a string to the hood latch release lever and lead it out above the driver's side fender. This is in case that the latch will not release again, when the hood is closed.

In case this doesn't work the cable is easy to replace as it threads into the firewall to connect to the under dash release.

If everything works after several test, remove the string and you're done.