Stuck front hood (Page 1/6)
THE DC JUL 31, 06:38 PM
I have a 1986 Fiero with a stuck hood. I tried releasing with the cable, then tried the back up EM cable next to it and even attempted pressing down under the windshield wiper while a friend tugged at the cable. Still stuck.

I don't want to damage the hood but its froze hard and not letting me even pull up enough to gamer at the latch. Any expertise in releasing this?
olejoedad JUL 31, 06:43 PM
It is possible to trip the latch with a tool that is bent properly to fit beneath the hood and down into the latch well.

Perhaps someone will post a picture of the hood latch so that you can see how to trip the mechanism.
THE DC JUL 31, 06:49 PM
I saw that but don't have any way to make one of those.

I was hoping for some work-aroud from someone in the know.

My pick up had the same problem and I could bump the very front, tripping the latch up, freeing it and replacing the pull.

That trick doesn't work for the Fiero!
viperine JUL 31, 08:52 PM
You could have a helper push down firmly but gently on the hood while you try the emergency cable. Personally, my 86 came with a broken primary cable and the emergency cable took the right tug at the right angle to work at all. Needless to say, that was the first part I sought to replace, and fixed it asap.
theogre AUG 01, 12:38 AM
1. Do Not force it by pulling hard. You likely will wreck the cables.

2. Pull cable and someone else hit the hood, one to many times, by hand in area where latch is.

3. If hood has been hit back... locks are likely holding it and pulling latch cable won't matter.
See my Cave, Hood

------------------
Dr. Ian Malcolm: Yeah, but your scientists were so preoccupied with whether or not they could, they didn't stop to think if they should.
(Jurassic Park)

The Ogre's Fiero Cave

THE DC AUG 01, 01:15 AM
No, the good news is that the car wasn't hit. I have to replace the batteries & with money tight she'd sat for a while.

I put a magazine on the hood, near the latch, per what my shop manual says it is located, and struck there with a rubber mallet. I'll try w/ a partner tomorrow and see if that works. That did work with my pickup, enabling me to replace the cable, but so far hadn't with the Fiero.

Thanks for all the advice,
theogre AUG 01, 10:20 AM
Note that 3. could be problems w/ hood alignment too. Bent hinges or hood can be a little off making lock bolts to lock enough.

Big gap at front of hood could be sign of alignment problems.
Rear corners "hitting" the windshield too. Corners should continue body lines w/ the fenders edges.

lock bolts and fold points in the hood are so in a wreck can't push thru the glass. (Watch YT crash tests.)
GM does not allow much alignment error before hitting the bolts.
If outside... Try open the hood at night so hood has cooled to shrink a bit.

If can see the latch... is tempting to spray whatever... but note that intake for AC/Heater is there too and can smell the fumes for days or longer.

[This message has been edited by theogre (edited 08-01-2016).]

THE DC AUG 02, 02:48 AM
Thanks for all of the suggestions.

I waited until it cooled and bounced on and battered the upper portion of the hood while the wife pulled on the hood release. No luck.

I tried beating with a rubber mallet, over a magazine, with similar no result.

I'm running out of ideas, other than breaking the lower brace bolts, through the headlight doors, and hoping I can reach the latch that way or at least rock it free?

Help me Obiwon! You're my only hope...
olejoedad AUG 02, 08:42 AM
Where are you located?
THE DC AUG 02, 09:28 AM
All the way down on the south east coast! A long way from MI.

Do you have any ideas about freeing the latch, by any chance?

Thanks in advance,

The DC