Help! the hood latch cable broke!

[1.8DOHC]

Ok, wtf, I went to open the hood to check the oil and the cable snaped and pulled out, how the hell do I get the hood open to fix it??

[D323]

snapped and pulled out?

You mean the metal cable in the jacket pulled out from inside the car?

[1.8DOHC]

The cable rusted near the hood latch and snapped, the cable pulled right out into the passenger area. Any ideas on how to open the hood???

[D323]

maybe get ahold of the part that is still connected to the latch with some needle nose pliers or something to make it realease?

That or remove your bumper and see if you can unbolt the latch part of the hood from the radiator support.... I dont remember if you can make it fully come off, but there are liek 3-4 bolts that hold it in place.

[photoeye0]

If you can get the gill off you can get to the lach from there. Or if it rusty give the hood a go pull and see if you can break the lach.

[lscrx]

you may have to sacrafice your grill... i'm sure there are people with OEM ones laying around after upgrading to the Familia one

[mannydingo]

Those grilles are even made aftermarket for super cheap. You just take your logo off and put it on the new one. There's a place here called PartsMax. Go to parsmaxinc.com but don't try to use their site to look for parts. It doesn't work. Just call their number. My 91 to 96 Ford Escort grille cost a whopping $5. I'm local so I didn't have to pay shipping and went right to the place 'cause it's near my home.

[D323]

If you can get the gill off you can get to the lach from there. Or if it rusty give the hood a go pull and see if you can break the lach.

hes right... I looked at mine today. There are 3 bolts that hold the latch down. 2 on the sides, and 1 in the middle... undo those and the latch should let go.

[1.8DOHC]

Ok, I was able to access the release lever from underneath the car, If you angle a screw driver through the bottom corner of the latch assy. (passenger side) you will feel the release arm press on it and pull the hood. Once the hood is open unbolt the hood latch, that's what I did anyway. After that I got a spool of 16 ga galvanized wire from home depot, I snaked it through and tied it around the release lever and made a little loop finger release for the inside.

[mannydingo]

I don't know if it was on this forum that someone actually broke the grille to get in. Congrats on being able to do it and for the person that suggested trying this first.

[D323]

congrats on not destroying anything.