Hood won't open!!!! HELP!

[Slagathor1]

92' Loyale 4WD A/T. A couple days ago I pulled the hood release inside the car to do my usual weekly inspection. To my surprise, this time the release pulled out like usual but it stayed out & won't go back in. It's just kinda hanging there now & what's worse, the hood didn't open & of course still won't. Obviously the hood release linkage came loose under the hood, but to fix it I have to get the hood open. See where i'm going with this??

How the heck do I get the hood open to fix the first problem!!!!?????

The only thing I can think of is going in through the front of the grill or somehow pulling the grill off to get inside. I'm not sure the grill can be removed from the front without damage though, & I definately don't wanna do that!!

Any suggestions??

[Subarian]

You should be able to get to the lever the cable connects to with a long screwdriver and open it that way. Be careful of slipping and hitting your AC condensor or radiator.

[NorthWet]

... The only thing I can think of is going in through the front of the grill or somehow pulling the grill off to get inside. I'm not sure the grill can be removed from the front without damage though, & I definately don't wanna do that!!

Any suggestions??

It is very difficult/near-impossible to remove the grill without first opening the hood. There are plastic screws that run ertially through the grill into the radiator support that must first be removed before the grill will pull forward, plus it has plastic pegs on its bottom that fit into holesat bumper level.

 

Try the trick with the screwdriver. Requires some patience, and it helps to have another latch to look at.

[jacobs]

On a 86 you have to get under the front end and pop off the plastic cover on the rear of the latch assy. It's close to the air conditioning condenser (if you have AC) but usually possible to remove. You will then see the end of the cable and the lever it is attched to. Then using a long screwdriver or similar object, push the lever toward the drivers side of the car. The hood should then open.

[hooziewhatsit]

http://www.ultimatesubaru.org/forum/showthread.php?t=31328&highlight=hood+latch+cable+release

 

I've since had another hood cable break, and this method took about 10 seconds to get the hood open.

 

good luck

[All_talk]

If you dont have A/C you can reach up under the bumper and trip it where the cable connects with your finger, its a long reach, get your head down there with a flash light and you'll see where. I did it like that in my wagon for a long time, got to where I could put my finger right on the lever without feeling around at all.

 

If you do have A/C the screwdriver should work, then for temporary you could run without the grill or hook a length of coathanger to it and let it hang out the front.

 

Gary

[Subarian]

The hanger idea is a good one. I ran one of my Subarus for a couple of years with a coat hanger loop just inside the grill.

[subiemech85]

completely remove all the hood latch crap, then install hood pins!

[idosubaru]

make sure this lever/catch is working PERFECTLY....i've had one that's been like that for about a year...catches and sticks sometimes and acts goofy. driving 55mph, the hood flew up and slammed into my windshield. that hood was toasted, all bent to crap. okay about a month later i'd learn my lesson right...nope sure didn't. flew up again just like 2 weeks ago and and ruined yet another hood...this one is still usable at least but looks like crap. luckily i hadn't smashed the windshield yet so it just added 123,342 cracks to the existing 45,648. make sure it's working perfect. i'm weird and laugh it off, but most people would likely flip out at the action that's created when a hood flies into a windshield at 55mph. and this is fortunatley close to home, traffic isn't much to speak of. elsewhere would have been dangerous.