Jump to content
Ultimate Subaru Message Board

How to open hood with busted hood latch


Recommended Posts

If you can get the grille out, use a 12mm socket and unbolt the 2 bolts that hold the catch for the hood latch on. This will let you get the hood open for access- but you'll have nothing to hold the hood down with if you want to drive it again before putting it back together!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

STOP!!!!! Did the latch break or did the cable snap? I got an EA82 and when the cable snapped, all you have to do is reach up between the grill and raidator )from the bottom) and its about forearms reach up to the hood latch.. There is a release that the cable is hooked to.. If I remember correctly the release is on the left side of the latch and you push it towards the drivers side of the car.. Pop, hood opens

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

like Torxxx said, it is visible from the front thru the grill. Seriously if you see the cable coming from the drivers side then you can see where it goes for the level to be pushed towards the drivers side.

 

I'm really surprised your back-of-the-hand got scraped up. I have A/C condensor and the area to squeeze up thru there is wide enough for one of the boardmembers to mount fog lights behind his grill so if you cut your hand then something must be amiss here and we don't know about.

 

When the junkyard wagon i was looking at had a busted cable i did this technique and didn't even get dirty doing it.

 

best of luck, you sound be able to achieve something similar.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I've used a wire coat hanger that I put a hook on one end and fished it in there and got ahold of the latch and opened it that way. Took a few tries to get it, thats why they call it fishin in there. Once you get it open you can attach the wire to the hook and leave it there until you get the latch or cable replaced.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Same thing happened on my 87 turbo wagon (now my parts car).

I had to use a long screwdriver to unlatch it from below (lots of

fishing as mentioned before). I fasioned a piece of wire with a loop on one end to hold on to, and attatched it where the cable

went. The hood could be popped open from the front by reaching through the grill, and hooking a finger through the loop in the wire.

 

Cheers,

Chris

Link to comment
Share on other sites

ha ha, my hood latch busted too...

i laid down under the car, squeezed my big arm and hand up there, cutting my hand and arm on the a/c condenser, blood everywhere.. looked like a murder scene. but i got my finger in there, pulled it to the drivers side and POP... open hood...

i used a piece of the old cable ran through and tied in a knot with the hood release handle hanging down from the bumper...

everyone asks, whats that?? i tell em its my pull start.. looks like something from a briggs and stratton..

 

bean

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

 Share

×
×
  • Create New...