Hood wont open, broken cable??

Disclaimer: Links on this page pointing to Amazon, eBay and other sites may include affiliate code. If you click them and make a purchase, we may earn a small commission.

Chaz

Full Access Member
Joined
Oct 12, 2012
Posts
192
Reaction score
13
Location
USA
First Name
Chaz
Truck Year
1980
Truck Model
V1500 Suburban
Engine Size
350 tbi/th400/np241c
Anyone know how to open the hood when the release cable is broken, disconnected??? I cant reach if from under the radiator, cant see how to reach the mechanism from under the hood from the front.
 

89Suburban

Supporting Member
Supporting Member
Joined
Dec 7, 2010
Posts
24,754
Reaction score
6,582
Location
Southeast PA
First Name
Paw Paw
Truck Year
2007
Truck Model
Chevrolet Tahoe LT
Engine Size
5.3, 4WD
You can use a wood wedge shim or screwdriver to lift the driver's side of the hood up a little to make a gap. Then put a short "L" shape at the end of a coat hanger, and you want to fish under the lip of the hood to the right of the latch and reach behind the latch towards the bottom and try to catch the trip release and pull it towards the driver's side. It should not take much to trip it, the trick is to hit it on the money. I was just staring at my latch this past weekend thinking about this situation.

Here is a pic for reference:

You must be registered for see images




Some other ideas:

http://www.gmsquarebody.com/forum/showthread.php?t=3073&highlight=hood+latch
 

Chaz

Full Access Member
Joined
Oct 12, 2012
Posts
192
Reaction score
13
Location
USA
First Name
Chaz
Truck Year
1980
Truck Model
V1500 Suburban
Engine Size
350 tbi/th400/np241c
Thanks I already removed most of my grill,,,,don't want to break it cuz its a nice orig one,,,gonna try the coat hanger,,,,it should pull to the drivers side right????
 

Chaz

Full Access Member
Joined
Oct 12, 2012
Posts
192
Reaction score
13
Location
USA
First Name
Chaz
Truck Year
1980
Truck Model
V1500 Suburban
Engine Size
350 tbi/th400/np241c
Got it open with the coat hanger,,,cable wasn't broken just slipped off the latch,,,thanks for the link I was looking for it but couldn't find it,,,
 

SDJunkMan

Full Access Member
Joined
Nov 17, 2017
Posts
1,809
Reaction score
2,656
Location
Black Hills of South Dakota
First Name
Jeff
Truck Year
1978
Truck Model
K10
Engine Size
350
Ok, having trouble opening the hood on my CUCV, think the release cable broke. Tried the coat hanger thing, but no luck, not sure if I'm getting the right place or not. Looked at my 78, but the release is totally different from the 84. Wedged the hood open a little but can't see the latch. Any other options or do I just keep fishing?
 

SDJunkMan

Full Access Member
Joined
Nov 17, 2017
Posts
1,809
Reaction score
2,656
Location
Black Hills of South Dakota
First Name
Jeff
Truck Year
1978
Truck Model
K10
Engine Size
350
Well, took a break to write this, went back out, and it opened on the first try! Cable isn't broke, not sure what the problem is, think I'll look for a new latch.
 

Camar068

Supporting Member
Supporting Member
Joined
Feb 5, 2014
Posts
4,291
Reaction score
3,335
Location
Kentucky
First Name
David
Truck Year
1986
Truck Model
K10/LM7 5.3/4L60e/np208/3.73/32"
Engine Size
10 yrs Air Force
mine releases but it doesn't pop up. So I give it the bump bump smack (Right to left from center).
 

scrap--metal

Full Access Member
Joined
Sep 15, 2021
Posts
691
Reaction score
1,314
Location
MN
First Name
Calvin
Truck Year
'85, '81
Truck Model
K10, K20
Engine Size
305, 350
mine releases but it doesn't pop up. So I give it the bump bump smack (Right to left from center).
Thanks to the forum, that's now how I open the hood on my K10. Every time. Except mine only takes one good hit to the center of the hood to make it pop. Prior to learning then Fonzie trick, I would apply upward pressure on the safety latch bolted to the hood while applying downward pressure from outside to get it to release just right. This would often take 3 to 5 trips back into the cab to pull the hood release after it would accidentally latch. And I ended up breaking a little piece of grill reaching through it.

The Fonzie trick is so much easier.
 

PrairieDrifter

Full Access Member
Joined
Dec 28, 2014
Posts
3,838
Reaction score
5,623
Location
North Dakota
First Name
Mason
Truck Year
84,79,77,76,70,48
Truck Model
Suburban k10, bonanza k10, k30, k20, c10, gmc 1/2ton
Engine Size
350, 350, 350, 350, 350, 350
My suburban needs the good old squarebody hood bump to open when the mechanism gets too gritty. Wash and lube. Make sure it's adjusted good as well.
 

SDJunkMan

Full Access Member
Joined
Nov 17, 2017
Posts
1,809
Reaction score
2,656
Location
Black Hills of South Dakota
First Name
Jeff
Truck Year
1978
Truck Model
K10
Engine Size
350
I've had to do the hood bump on almost everyone of my vehicles, including my Ford. I'll try cleaning it up and lubing it real good.
 

Latest posts

Forum statistics

Threads
44,067
Posts
948,702
Members
36,134
Latest member
gtewolf79
Top