I was changing my leaking radiator on my 07 RX400h. Part of the procedure is to remove the hood latch. After reinstalling it the hood closed normally but now it won’t release! The cable has slack but doesn’t budge. Is there anyway to release the latch? Any ideas would be greatly appreciated!

 

I recently had my lock carrier off as well, and was surprised that the hood lock cable that is anchored on the inside of the car (above your left foot) had jumped out of its "U" groove which holds the outside of the cable while the lever pulls the wire. Even if that is ok, you can still trying pulling the wire more from inside.

After that, it gets more difficult, but unbolting the lock through the front grill (maybe L emblem or grill can be removed with hood shut, not sure), and getting access to the cable is next. May end up needing new plastic grill your worst case scenario if cosmetics matter.

See:

 

Stuck hood latch
Here is a picture. Got the grill off and it looks like the cable is broken off of the latch. I pull but nothing happens. I can’t seem to find the lock release.

 

Yah, now see the video I linked. In the end he unbolts the latch and it comes up attached to hood and you can then get it off. If that doesn't work, then you should be able to pull on it where that cable goes into the latch.

 

Of course Lexus makes things more difficult. Saw the video. The difference with the RX is that you cannot remove the latch as it covered my a metal support that attached with 6 bolts. Loosening the 3 bolts on the latch won’t do much. In the picture you can see the cable. Problem is it’s detached from the latch and the attachment point is buried behind the non removable latch.

anyone have a diagram of the lock mechanism?

 

Yah, the lock carrier is on top of latch on mine too. I bet that strip of steel is pretty cheap, as last resort I'd just cut the thing to get the latch free, and go to junkyard and get a new top carrier piece.

 

Spot on! I found another thread about drilling a hole in the metal cover to reach the latch mechanism - just as you suggested.

it worked! Yahoo!

Here’s an example of the hole I drilled. It’s to the right 3/4 down and left of the right bolt. That’s the location of the mechanism.

thanks for you help!

 

What did you have to do at this point? I am having the same issue. It seems that in mine there is an access hole already made in the metal cover and I can see the cable and what I think is part of the mechanism but I can't figure out how to activate it. Also the video above is now unavailable:/

 

Ok - I'm having the same issue. I drilled a similar hole. I can see the spring mechanism behind. I can get some pressure on it (left to right), but I can't seem to move it enough to get the hood latch to release.

The cable in the car is loose. I can pull on it but it does nothing.

Anyone have any ideas on how to get the hood open???

Thanks.

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It sounds like the hood cable under the dash has popped out of its mounting. You have to remove the lpwer dash panel under the steering wheel and press the cable into its U shaped mounting at the bottom of the release lever. Maybe you can do it without removing the dash panel if you are real familiar with that area.

 

Thanks for your suggestion. I'll look at that.

The cable has come loose inside the car. It's just sticking out loose an inch or so past the release. I grabbed the cable directly with pliers and pulled. Nothing.

I don't see why putting the cable back into the mounting would matter, but I'm pretty desperate at this point so I'll try it.

Any other suggestions on how to get the hood open??

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take a heavy pry bar and stick it under the bottom edge of the front of the hood directly dead center and let it hang. If you don’t have one long and heavy enough get someone to apply pressure and then pull the cable with pliers.

My hood wouldn’t open for a couple days and I had a long enough pry bar. I could have had my fiancé help if i didn’t but as soon as I pulled the latch the hood popped then I blasted the latch with lubricant penetrant/ wd40 and it never happened again.

 

Thanks for the tips guys. No luck so far.

I don't see a way to attach the cable inside the car better than it is. Plus I"m pulling directly on the cable end with vice grip pliers. I can feel the mechanism move at the hood latch, but it's not releasing.

I also used a pry bar - to the point that I felt like I was risking breaking the hood - no luck.

I can see the cable moving the mechanism under the hood (post #7 and #8) where I drilled the hole in the lock mechanism. Tomorrow I am going to drill a bigger hole and see if I can grab the cable directly with long nose pliers.

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it sounds as though you didn’t quite do what I instructed since you said you physically exerted effort on the pry bar.

you need to put the pry bar in the slot between the hood/ grille and the bumper directly dead center and let it hang if it’s heavy enough to exert pressure on the hood then pull the latch cable.

I luckily had a long crowbar that weighed 3 pounds so it applied enough force while hanging there so I could pull the latch and the hood finally popped. But if it isn’t heavy enough to apply the force you’re going to need someone to apply just a little force, not so much whereas you feel the hood is going to brake.

you might have damaged the latch by drilling into it and this might not work because of that. However if this doesn’t work then the best thing to do is go under the car, remove the protective plastic splash hairs under the radiator and condenser and then use a pry bar to reach up and hit the release mechanism then the hood will open. Drilling into it isn’t the best way to go.

but it sounds like you didn’t do exactly what I instructed. You just need a little bit of pressure applied against the latch and then use pliers to pull the latch cable from inside the vehicle since it’s disconnected from the latch.

if my pry bar trick doesn’t work you likely need to replace the latch and or cable. Good luck
the goal of what I recommended is to pull the cable while pressure is being applied to the hood/ latch mechanism. If it’s rusted frozen this will force it open.

 

Thank you for the suggestions. I still haven’t been able to get the hood open. I really don’t know what to do. This is crazy.

I don’t see how to get access from below. The radiators are in the way.

Here is the set up:



That pry bar is at least 5 lbs. maybe more. I also put pressure on it while a helper pulled the cable to the point I was worried about breaking the hood. I can hear the cable moving but it’s just not doing anything.

Any other thoughts? Do I break the grill? That’s an expensive way to go. Would I even be able to open the hood if I did??

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