Opening The Hood...

[TsubohachiLX-i]

Hello 3GEEZ!!!

Is there a shortcut to popping the hood on my LXi?

I had a blowout today on the highway, and some of the electrical wires that hang over the driver-side tire got chewed up, and my car WILL NOT START AT ALL (the engine just turns over).

Somehow the HOOD LATCH got damaged, and the rope/wire that was connected to that was severed, so I have no way to pop the hood.
F:\DCIM\IMG00029.jpg

[charliekuney]

Pull the rope? It may be severed, but it's still there, right? The picture isn't working, also.

[Vanilla Sky]

You can pull the bumper off without popping the hood. Remove the turn signals and use a LOOOONG extention and you should be able to get at the 4 bolts that hold the bumper on. After removing the bumper, you can get at the hood latch.

[TsubohachiLX-i]

What color was the rope that was connected to the hood latch (so I can identify it)?

Also, once I remove the bumper, what would I need to do or push to pop hood?

[Vanilla Sky]

it's a black cable. Looks a lot like a bicycle brake cable.

[TsubohachiLX-i]

Did it run along with the other cables (the ones that got chewed up), or did it run by itself?

I had already removed the little drop-down FUSE door next to the hood latch, to locate any wire that looks broken, but I didn't see nothing...

[stat1K]

it runs right above that loom of wires...

[charliekuney]

They're black? Mine are both actually pieces of rope.

[labeledsk8r]

they're black? Mine are both actually pieces of rope.

rofl

[TsubohachiLX-i]

this is the damage that was done so far...
[img=http://img7.imageshack.us/img7/6225/img00027ku.th.jpg] (http://img7.imageshack.us/i/img00027ku.jpg/)
[img=http://img7.imageshack.us/img7/5482/img00028b.th.jpg] (http://img7.imageshack.us/i/img00028b.jpg/)
[img=http://img7.imageshack.us/img7/1391/img00029do.th.jpg] (http://img7.imageshack.us/i/img00029do.jpg/)
luckily, only 2 wires (out of 10, maybe 15) snapped, as to why the car won't start. If I can get the damn hood up, I can disconnect those wires and CRIMP them back together, and HOPEFULLY that will be the end of that...

If there's no other damage, my LXi should start up with no problems...

[car6289]

WOW! Did your blowout take out the plastic inner fender? The hood release cable is supposed to be with that wiring bundle but I think it leaves the wiring harness behind where your damaged wiring is. As was previously suggested you should be able to find the cable inside the car. I looked at my hood latch from the opening in the front of the hood and access to the release for the hood latch looks almost impossible. About ten bends with a coat hanger and the proper tongue position should do the trick. Good luck to you.

[TsubohachiLX-i]

Yeah...thanx...

I'm pretty confident that I can fix this, my steps are:

1. Popping the hood (1ST Priority)...
2. Repairing the wires...
3. Slap on the spare...

Also, what is that THICK GREY WIRE that is in the bundle? And lastly, can someone post a picture of the HOOD RELEASE MECHANISM, so I'll know what to feel for when I get dirty?

[lostforawhile]

WOW! Did your blowout take out the plastic inner fender? The hood release cable is supposed to be with that wiring bundle but I think it leaves the wiring harness behind where your damaged wiring is. As was previously suggested you should be able to find the cable inside the car. I looked at my hood latch from the opening in the front of the hood and access to the release for the hood latch looks almost impossible. About ten bends with a coat hanger and the proper tongue position should do the trick. Good luck to you.take off the turn signals, remove the four bolts behind them holding on the bumper, remove and screws underneath holding the plastic parts of the bumper to the car, slide the bumper straight back off it's pins on the sides and remove it, now you'll see the latch assembly right in the middle, you should be able to operate it from there. I think you can pull on the end of the cable.

[TsubohachiLX-i]

Alright...

Thanx for the details...

Wish me MORE LUCK...

[car6289]

Here is a Service Manual picture of the hood latch. The trip lever to open the latch is located just above and slightly to the right (side of car) of the latch assembly lower mount bolt. If you take the bumper off and look up and are able to see the latch and the release; the release must be pushed up as the release cable(if yours was functioning) pulls up on the latch release.
http://img35.imageshack.us/img35/5103/hoodlatch2.jpg

Wishing you more good luck.

[car6289]

TsubohachiLX-i:
Here's an actual picture of the hood latch. By the time I get this posted you will have probably have your hood open and repairs well under way.
http://img33.imageshack.us/img33/6166/latchpic.jpg