Best way to get around a broken inside release latch

[Princess Valiant]

so I have this duster in the yard that has an inside hood release and of course it doesn't work.

I accidently shut the hood all the way and now i pull on the release in the car and it doesn't do anything.

What's the easiest way to get the hood open again. I don't think the grille will come off with the hood shut because there's screws on the top?

I tried reaching up from the bottom but that didn't get me anywhere.

Anyone knows how these latches work??

 

[RustyRatRod]

If you get that tire out of the way you can crawl under the front and look up behind the valance and get back there with a long screwdriver and release it.

 

[Princess Valiant]

So where do I stick the screwdriver ?

 

[Northern Grit]

The cable pulls back on a pivot right near the driver's side of the latch bar.

If the cable broke you will have to somehow pull that "ear" over to release the primary. If the cable is not broken I've had good luck with one person holding the handle out while another jiggles up and down on the hood.

 

[RustyRatRod]

So where do I stick the screwdriver ?

View attachment 1715576717

See where the center support goes right up under the latch? "Right there somewhere" always did it for me. You'll be trying to push the latch linkage over to the driver's side just like the cable pulls it. See that ball I have the red circle over? Screwdriver "in there" and pry to the left, I believe should give the result you are looking for.

You might try to the right as well, as that point might be below the pivot. If it is, it will go the opposite way of the cable pull.

 

[Princess Valiant]

I just tried to move that bottom tab as far as it will go and nothing

 

[Kern Dog]

Long, thin screwdriver through the grille.

 

[RustyRatRod]

If all else fails "THERE'S" the cable. See if you can cut it and pull the cable core to release the latch.

 

[Princess Valiant]

I tried what yall suggested to no avail but I still appreciate the input.

I suppose there was no need to ask fabo when I found a solution after looking at it closer, but on the other hand someone with the same problem might see this thread and save a bunch of time.

I was so focused on making it work from underneath that I didn't even think of going through the grille until kern dog mentioned a screwdriver the grille and then i thought a 1/4 inch extension will fit through the grille but the socket prolly wouldn't. So i reached up from underneath and put the 1/2 inch socket on the bolt first and then put the extension through the grille and unbolted the latch.

As soon as it unbolted, it let go of the hood. So it was releasing but somewhere a spring wasn't doing its job.

 

[Princess Valiant]

So with the hood open, black beauty was still in there and her days of bliss under a stuck shut hood were over.

Nice try for a free ride in this duster beeoch

 

[RustyRatRod]

Well good. I'm glad you got it. Sorry this old geezer wasn't any help.

 

[Princess Valiant]

Well good. I'm glad you got it. Sorry this old geezer wasn't any help.

But you were, you suggested I move the tire out of the way and get in there and quit being afraid of a little latch

 

[harrisonm]

YAY! Don't you love it when the light bulb comes on? Big thanks to @Kern Dog for prodding you in the general direction.

 

[RustyRatRod]

YAY! Don't you love it when the light bulb comes on? Big thanks to @Kern Dog for prodding you in the general direction.

Yeah no doubt. He hits a homer every now and then......or is that homo? Ha! I caint stand myself. LOL

 

[Kern Dog]

The only homo that I ever hit was my older brother and now he is dead. Thanks for dredging up painful memories.

 

[RustyRatRod]

The only homo that I ever hit was my older brother and now he is dead. Thanks for dredging up painful memories.

I didn't mean it like that nor did I have a way of knowing. I was just jokin with you. My apologies.

 

[Kern Dog]

Wayne got leukemia and passed on over 10 years ago. I still miss him.

 

[Kern Dog]

Oh, no worries, friend! I was kidding, making light of a sad situation.

 

[Kern Dog]

You responded faster than I could. I was JOKING just like you!

 

[Kern Dog]

I ruined this topic didn't I ?
I guess that explains why I get invited to so FEW parties since that incident....

 

[RustyRatRod]

Oh, no worries, friend! I was kidding, making light of a sad situation.

Then consider my comment the same. I meant it as a joke anyway. You have my condolences, even with the passage of time. Somehow, you never get over the loss of loved ones.

 

[Lord Sparky]

Wayne got leukemia and passed on over 10 years ago. I still miss him.

Wayne is a great name. My condolences.

 

[JDMopar]

Rani....at least you just found a spider. I dragged in a 69 Charger R/T years ago, and didn't have any trunk keys. No prob! I just got my 3/8 ratchet, 1/2" socket and an extension, removed the back seat and crawled into the trunk. I was in the process of taking the trunk lock out, and something started crawling across my neck. I was laying on my belly in the trunk. I just froze, because I knew it was a snake! It felt like it must have been 30 feet long, since it seemed like it took forever for it to get ALL of itself across my neck! I hurried up and got the trunk lock unbolted, and eased the decklid open. I was fully expecting to find a big fat Copperheaded Rattler Moccasin in there with me, but it was just an old black snake about 4 feet long coiled up in a pile over by the drivers side wheel well. As I eased up out of the trunk, he/she never moved. I got some gloves, and went back and gently got it out of the car and put it in the edge of the woods. It lived on my property several years, and I named it Coalie. As long as it was around, there wasn't a Copperhead to be found. Yep....stuck latches can make some interesting stories....lol. Glad you got your hood open!

 

[harrisonm]

I ruined this topic didn't I ?
I guess that explains why I get invited to so FEW parties since that incident....

Ruined a topic? Hijacked a topic? NOBODY does that better than you. You are truly the best at it!

 

[pishta]

I'd **** my pants if a snake crawled over me prone in a trunk.