Hood latch hard to pull out

JasonNC

Anyone have a solution to this problem? I have greased the latch, used WD-40 on it, and it still takes two hands to pull the latch under the dash to get it to open. I'm wondering if moving the cable cover forward or back at the latch to change the angle of engagement of the wire to the latch will help.

charles4d

might have rust built up in the cable cover

Jon B

Yeah, you might want to unscrew the cable from the latch and try pulling it. If it is still hard to pull, your problem lies (as Charles4D suggests) in built up rust (or a kink) in the cable or its flexible sheathing or conduit. In that case you might try sliding the cable out of the conduit and greasing it, then ease it back in, stopping to pull it back out and apply more grease, then re-inserting it until the cable moves smoothly within the conduit.

RonS

Jason do as the guys say, disconnect the cable from the latch and see if there is a obstruction as the cable moves back and forth. Since it will be out un fasten the dash retaining screws and pull the cable out and lube the whole cable, not WD40. Use grafite/ alcohol aka Lock ease or lubriplate. But, I'll bet the resistance is in the arm on the latch that the cable pulls back to clear the spring loaded hood pin. That arm drags against the latch plate and needs lube there also. A good grease after scrubbing caked on crud should do well. It's also fairly easy to remove the entire latch assembly with only 4 bolt &nuts.You also may have an issue with the latch pin spring being too tight. Make sure the arms movement pulls the latch far enough to release the pin from the sliding latch smoothly. Just study the thing for a minute with the cable off you will see how it works. Do not fully close the hood with out the cable reconnected . It a pain to reopen it without the inside pull.

charles4d

Maybe the hood latch isn't centered and it binds and becomes hard to open just a thought

[Deleted User]

Why not attach an old wiper cable to the latch where the hood release connects, and route it behind the grill. make a loop on the end with a cable connector, to hold onto it and pull. If it opens easy it's a rusted or bent cable. If the inside hood release breaks, you have another way to open the hood.

rambos_ride

Only 2 hands to open? LOL- I have to wrap a strap around the handle on the 51 and pull on that!

Years ago I bought a new cable/handle on ebay for my 49. I think its time to dust that one off.

DocHornet

Mine was almost impossible to pull.. I just bought a complete new cable (unversal) and now it opens like butter!

JasonNC

I am thinking about doing just that Doc. I think I bought the universal one I have now from NAPA years ago.

Lee ODell

Any suggestions how to open the hood when cable is too rusty to pull, on a 54 Hornet Special Club Sedan.
Thanks Lee O'Dell

DocHornet

As I recall, the latch mechanism is reasonably accessible through the grill opening. You may have to struggle a bit, but with some effort should prevail.