Hood Won't Open. Ideas?

Removing the panel inside the car will allow you access to the cable. If the cable is just loose, that should let you pull it as far as needed. Then you can tighten it (assuming the tightening mechanism is in the engine compartment).

 

I'd have it repaired under warranty.

 

+1

If you have any problems whatsoever (in the first 3 years/36K miles) you simply need to bring it into the dealer. You paid for the warranty, you should use it.

 

Take a toilet plunger and stick it on the hood & give it a swift yank upward :doh:

Mike

 

If you have to "nudge" it open with a screwdriver (hope you wrap it in tape or cloth first), and it moves just enough to get to the latch under the hood, then the release inside the passenger compartment is working. Every once in a while, especially during hot days, I pop the release from inside the car and notice that the hood doesn't move. I think it's just the weatherstripping sticking to the hood. I just pry it up with my fingers.

 

You can also just hit it with your hand or fist on the top of the front of the hood. This should make it pop all the way open. You may need to adjust the two hood things. I can't think what their called but they screw in and out of the car to help hold the hood when it is closed. if you look around the front support by the radiator you will see the two things and you should be able to see on the underside of the hood where it touches the things.

 

At the end of the release cable is a small bar (the cable and the bar form a "T").

I'm thinking that you can slide the release cable off its track on the lever door, and then pull on the cable with your fingers. Or you can just pull the exposed cable with a pair of pliers.

(Until you get the dealer to fix it under warranty. Even if it were out of warranty, I think the dealer would fix it for free if you get other work or service done.)

 

Maybe just exercise the hood latch a bit by opening & closing it a few times. Might just be close tolerances and needing a bit of wear to loosening it up.

I still like that toilet plunger idea but that would be a bit hard on the paint

Mike

 

What happened with the clear bra install? Was it a do it yourself or a shop install? I have never tried installing one yet so I have no idea the possibilities. I suppose as a commercial would say, the possibilities are endless

Mike

 

Wow that sucks big time. If the overlay is like a Zagg screen protector, then the bubbles will magically go away. I had a Zagg protector put on my iPhone and it had bubbles but the installer said they would be gone in a week and they were. If a car overlay works the same way then your fine. How long has it been on the car?

If the bubbles will never go away, then I would remove the overlay and go to a shop that specializes in vinyl overlays and get it done right. I hope your paint isn't jacked up now.

Mike

 

See if the wrinkles can be worked down. Well sounds like the bubbles should settle out as they do with a Zagg I was imagining that you had it done long ago and it was toast for good. My next car is going to get a overlay on whatever can be done. Just don't know which car yet I'd surely like to hear how your overlay is doing next week. Is it 3M material or what manufacturer?

Mike

 

Damn sad to hear your hood isn't better. That is a lot of money to get it right. That material must be different than the Zagg material. Hope you get it back to looking fine soon :tea:

Mike