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my hood won't close anymore and i'm not sure if it's the latch mechanism or the cable. The cable seems loose where i release it in the car so i'm in the process of removing the latch mechanism. I'm all the way in but can't seem to get this last round fastener off. as it seems to be holding the latch in from inside the casing. I want to pull the mechanism off so i can take it apart to see if it's the spring or cable, but can't because i'm stuck at this last piece holding it on.
Please give me some insight on how to get this hood latch out so i can diagnose.
awesome, thx so much. I just pulled it all apart and lubed it all up with some Fluid Film. Sprayed liberally! I worked the cable a bit as well as threw some lube down the sheath as best as i could do. Took every spring and lever and moved it around to get the lube in each part. Put it all back together and BAM! works like a charm. Inside hood release lever has tension as well now.
I bought and installed a new hood lock cable 53630-50060 three years ago after the cable was seized up. It was $15.28 USD from Amayama at the time. Fairly easy to install and I recommend doing it while your old cable still works.
The difficult part is getting the hood open if the cable is seized and the latch under the steering wheel cannot be pulled forward any further because the cable is so stretched. I had to unhook the cable from the latch and use pliers to pull the cable at a precise angle with extreme force, without stabbing a hole through me or my driver seat. This is real tricky due to the shape of the end of the cable.
After you get the hood open and start disassembling parts, do not install the security cover on the cable, so that you can jimmy the hood open if you messed up, hood accidentally closes, or if you have to go for a drive in the middle of switching out the cable. Run the old or new cable in a way so that you can hook something around it to pull the latch open.
I strongly recommend replacing your hood cable if it doesn't reliably open the hood. Greasing it might not last as long as you think, and you don't want to be stuck in a blizzard or other emergency and unable to open the hood.
hood latch or cable
