DIY hood latch cable replacement
Driver
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 173
Likes: 0
From: MA
My cable has been out the last 3 years. The way I get it to close each time is......
...follow the cable from the hood latch to where it takes a 90 degree turn toward the windshield. In that area you can get your hands on the cable and give it a couple tugs, tugging at the hood latch. This frees up the cable and hood latch and works for me every time.
...follow the cable from the hood latch to where it takes a 90 degree turn toward the windshield. In that area you can get your hands on the cable and give it a couple tugs, tugging at the hood latch. This frees up the cable and hood latch and works for me every time.
This has been so annoying. I could close my hood and only the secondary latch would catch, then I could slam my trunk closed and the primary latch would catch.
However, I could then pop the first latch by just lifting hard by putting my fingers in the grill.
I used some pliers and found the cable right above the driver's headlight and pulled it away from the latch. I heard a small click and then when I closed the hood, it stayed completely closed and the hood pop latch in the car actually worked.
Thank you!!!!
Rookie
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 30
Likes: 1
From: Texas
I had a mechanic replace this about a year ago. Had tried WD-40 and pliers etc and it sort of worked but had not found this thread. So today it started again - had to push the cable under the dash with pliers. and now found this thread, so have a choice at least v. having to pay for the repair at the shop a second time. thanks for the great info and pictures.!!
Driver
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 161
Likes: 0
From: IL
I had this problem today. I tried taking the latch apart but didnt realize that the crossmember was removable. I wound up getting it by sticking a tiny screwdriver into the latch and wiggling it and i hard a little pop. It seems theres something in the latch that gets hung up. Its not so much of a cable problem because the cable doesnt "push" anything, it pulls. The cable retract is spring loaded if the latch is working.
Driver School Candidate
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 1
Likes: 0
From: il
Local Mechanic cost in Chicago
It took more than two hours for them to figure out how to do it, then do it, but the end cost was 200+cable. I didn't notice this DIY at the bottom of the list. Oh well.
GSFire
GSFire
Lead Lap
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 3,565
Likes: 48
From: Illinois
Hey guys. I know this is an old post (and I posted to it at one point). I just need a temporary fix. It seems like you can access the cable behind/beneath the driver's side headlight. Another poster also mentioned sticking a small screwdriver into the latch itself.
Can someone tell me a quick and easy way to get my hood closed tonight?
e
Can someone tell me a quick and easy way to get my hood closed tonight?
e
Driver School Candidate
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 33
Likes: 0
From: Arizona
My wife and I just got done changing the hood latch cable on her GS430. Something that we did that I didn't see mentioned in this thread was putting wheel bearing grease on the end of the cable before shoving it in the firewall. We tried to feed it through the firewall but it just wouldn't go in so I coated the end of the cable with grease and it went right in.
Driver School Candidate
Joined: Feb 2013
Posts: 3
Likes: 0
From: PA
Electrical tape and general purpose grease
My dad and I completed this job together about a month ago, the photos on this site were great. Finished the job quickly and more easily by taping up end to end the new cable to the old one, greasing up the cable for the push through the fire wall.
Driver School Candidate
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 25
Likes: 1
From: Va
I have alternate short tem repair. After reading the thread I decided to try white lithium grease into the cable from inside the car. I forced my red nozzle extender (what is that really called?) into the cable just behind the release handle where the wire first enters. After putting some old towels down and covering the area with a rag, gave it a good 5 second shot. It seemed to get most of into the cable. I then let it sit while also greased up the latch and changed the oil. After a few hours I took a pair of pliars and forced the wire from about one inch of where the wire enters back into the cable. It seemed to pop back into place. So far I have opened the hood only once more to test it. I think I will leave it alone for a while. Hope this helps.
Scott
Scott
Driver School Candidate
Joined: Mar 2014
Posts: 2
Likes: 0
From: IL
I like everthing except the part to pass thru the firewall. In my 2000 GS300, I had to unbolt the fuse box (2 bolts) to get to the rubber plug on the firewall. Only way to get cable inside.
Last edited by kokkinias; Apr 5, 2014 at 09:08 PM.
I just had this problem on my 01 GS300. Local mechanic shop quoted $140 for the part and labor so I went with it. Seems like a good deal for a job that would've taken me more than 2 hours and that's if I didn't run into complications which never happens with any job.