Hood release cable is frozen, how to unlatch hood?

I dont mean to sound ungrateful but... I solved the problem
myself. The solutions here were completely of no help. I checked out a
friends Blazer and figureed out how to do it - 2 different ways...
both work!



To unlatch the hood, you need to get to the latch from the rear.
Putting a crowbar or long screwdriver in will never unlatch the hood as
the latch is protected from the front.



Simple method: I took a stiff wire coat hanger and straightened it out.
Then i made a sharp bend (>90 degrees) about 1/2 inch from one end.
Now I slid the hanger in from the right (driver's side) in the gap
between the hood and the top of the radiator mount. Point the small
bend in the hanger towards the front. Go directly behind the safety
catch lever and behind the metal plate that hides the cable latch (you
can see that the cable goes behind the plate). Extend the bend about an
inch or so beyond the safety latch and try to catch something (a small
lever that the cable connects to) then pull to your right. Give it a
try several times until you catch the lever.



Longer Method: Remove the two nuts (13mm) behind the center column that
the plastic grill mounts to. The nuts are facing directly downward.
These nuts hold the hood latch to the top radiator mount. After
removing the nuts, you should be able to lift the hood an inch or two.
Now remove the four small bolts (I think they are 7mm or 8mm - sorry I
didnt look at the socket) that mount the top of the plastic grill to
the top radiator mount. Also, remove the two screws that mount the
plastic grill to the center column behind the middle of the grill. Now
you can use a little extra muscle to lift the hood (and latch) high
enough to get your finger behind the latch and pull the lever to the
right.



Like I said. I did it both ways and can do the coat hanger trick in the dark now with no problems.



Good luck!!!



I dont mean to sound ungrateful but... I solved the problem myself. The solutions here were completely of no help. I checked out a friends Blazer and figureed out how to do it - 2 different ways... both work!

To unlatch the hood, you need to get to the latch from the rear. Putting a crowbar or long screwdriver in will never unlatch the hood as the latch is protected from the front.

Simple method: I took a stiff wire coat hanger and straightened it out. Then i made a sharp bend (>90 degrees) about 1/2 inch from one end. Now I slid the hanger in from the right (driver's side) in the gap between the hood and the top of the radiator mount. Point the small bend in the hanger towards the front. Go directly behind the safety catch lever and behind the metal plate that hides the cable latch (you can see that the cable goes behind the plate). Extend the bend about an inch or so beyond the safety latch and try to catch something (a small lever that the cable connects to) then pull to your right. Give it a try several times until you catch the lever.

Longer Method: Remove the two nuts (13mm) behind the center column that the plastic grill mounts to. The nuts are facing directly downward. These nuts hold the hood latch to the top radiator mount. After removing the nuts, you should be able to lift the hood an inch or two. Now remove the four small bolts (I think they are 7mm or 8mm - sorry I didnt look at the socket) that mount the top of the plastic grill to the top radiator mount. Also, remove the two screws that mount the plastic grill to the center column behind the middle of the grill. Now you can use a little extra muscle to lift the hood (and latch) high enough to get your finger behind the latch and pull the lever to the right.

Like I said. I did it both ways and can do the coat hanger trick in the dark now with no problems.

Good luck!!!