Skiviking

I'm sure I should be able to fix or replace this without a lot of hassle...but thought I'd ask here first for any and all tips that can help with keeping MURPHY's LAW away when I start to work on this...the car is an 86...and I believe it broke or disconnected at the handle.
Once again thanks in advance....

SeanR

If it was just the handle, you need the backing plate and handle. Usually the handle is fine, it's the mounting tab that breaks.

Mrmerlin

if this is the second time that the handle has broken you need the new handle as well as either a good lube job on the hood latch or a new hood cable , if the plastic keeps breaking then the latch is sticky or your cable is toast dont try to lube the cable as it runs in a teflon sleeve and the oil will only make it sticky BTDT

Skiviking

Thanks I'll keep these tips in mind when I open it up in the morning......

StratfordShark

My tabs didn't break but the cable frayed and broke at the pull handle (old cable and latch were too stiff).

I had to replace on a RHD car so your run will be different, but on my car had to remove wheel liner for access(the hood release ran above carbon canister, then through grommet into cabin). Putting a little vaseline on outside of new cable helps you get it through the grommet as a lot of cables there make it pretty tight.

The eye of the release cable attached to pull handle via a pin rivet. Just knock out old rivet with a punch and it can be reused.

I fitted a new lower latch too, as the old one had to come out anyway to attach new cable. You have to drill out the 4 rivets holding latch receiver in.

With a new latch and cble the mechanism worked very smoothly, and needed no undue force to pop the hood.

Skiviking

Thanks for the info.....much appreciated!!

Skiviking

Well tried to do the broken cable to release the hood. I got nowhere.....seems to baffle me....there are 2 what I take as screw access holes in the hood lever plate in the drivers side. But when I went to slide a phillips in there ...there seemd nothing to engage to loosen, so I tried a flat head in there and still nothing....so is it a hex head or torx head....or am I missing something on how to undo the latch handle and plate? HELP???

Mrmerlin

to open your hood reach up inside the front grill and feel where the cable end is then push it towards the driver side this should pop the latch you will have to lie on the ground to do this

Skiviking

Thanks Merlin,
I have no problem opening or getting into the engine bay. But the cable broke, and I want to replace it or fix it if I can by the latch handle. And was unable to do that since I couldnt fine how to unscrew it from the side of the drivers footwell. No Philips or flat head would do it, so I was asking what tool or what kind torx or allen it might be????

Mrmerlin

OK it takes 2 phillips screws first remove the outer cover of the handle quadrant, then you will see the inner cover and the screw holes.
The outer cover snaps into place so first gently pry up on the center and slide it upwards).
it is usually best to replace all the plastic parts there are 2, and the cable as a sticky or crimped cable will quickly destroy your new plastic pieces BTDT

borland

Since you broke the cable, your hood latch is probably mis-aligned.

If your hood latch is properly aligned, you should be able to use your 'pinky finger' to release the hood.
That's how little resistance you should have on the cable.

Skiviking

Yes, that is how it has felt everytime I opened it easy and smooth....but this time something bound up as I had felt a little resistance when it failed....

Skiviking

Thanks again Merlin.....I will go back to the 2 access holes on the plate and see if I have the phillips in correctly to engage and remove them....I thought it should be pretty straight forward.........but didn't want to force or mess up the heads....my fear is maybe the prior owner had done this before and striped the heads....But I will try it again with a couple differnt size phillips heads....
Thanks for the reply!