After reading about the horror stories of how to open the hood after a snapped cable I ran across this. I found this in the "The Big Guide to Fiero Kits and Parts" in an article by S. J. Wynman, AAI in a section called Fiero Secrets. (BTW a neat book)

"Spare Front Trunk Release: Not often, but every once in a while, it is possible for you to run in an unfortunate situation. This could happen when you have to get into the front storage area of your Fiero. Pull the release handle, then hear and feel the release cable snap. Given Murphy's Law, the reason you were trying to get into the front storage area was to get the spare tire to replace a flat. Now you really feel stuck. Well, GM actually thought this one through. There is a second cable which runs along side the first cable, all within the same housing. If you look just behind the release lever you will see a piece of metal, about 3/8" in diameter and 5/8" long. It actually sits in its own holder. Just pull it down out of its holder and pull straight back. Your front hood will pop up. Now you can get that spare and are able to repair that broken release cable."

For those of us who didn't know about the second cable this is useful info.

[This message has been edited by skitime (edited 03-13-2001).]

YA, I think everyone knows about the 'spare' but the guy in original post on this broke BOTH !!

Well I didn't know about the spare...good information to have.

Good info - I was always wondering about that. I thought the shop that painted my front end after a boo-boo were miracle workers when they opened the hood.

isnt the forum great !!!! lots of stuff you think everyone knows !!!!! I found out about where you store the sunroof in here too, i always threw it in the back until someone here said it went up front. I acctually used the 'spare' hood release all the time thinking the t handle was broke off, then discovered this little flap u pulled, lol.

quote Originally posted by skitime: ...GM actually thought this one through. There is a second cable which runs along side the first cable, all within the same housing. If you look just behind the release lever you will see a piece of metal, about 3/8" in diameter and 5/8" long. It actually sits in its own holder. Just pull it down out of its holder and pull straight back. Your front hood will pop up...

Pardon me, while I pick my jaw off the floor! I bet I've seen that thing while crawling under the dash, and wondered what it was, at least a half dozen times - now that I'm Fiero-less, I can only see it in my mind's eye.

Too bad they didn't use the trunk-type solenoid opener on the front...would have eliminated this problem altogether.