How to open hood manually 99 blazer LS

[LJP_GURU]

The cable snap from the hood release and now is no where in sight. Is there a manual way to open the hood?

[HalJason]

If it's anything like my '95:

If you look into the grill, you should be able to see the cable snaking around from the driver's side into the hood latch. Carefully cut through the sheath without hurting the cable itself (a sharp blade should do it). Make sure to give yourself enough room between the cut and the latch to give it a second shot if you're not careful enough (but the end result is better if you get it the first time).

Once you make the cut, you should be able to pull the metal cable out of the sheath on the cabin side (as opposed to the latch side). I was able to pull it all the way out (several feet worth) and coil it up neatly and wrap the whole thing in electrical tape. Now I have a ring to pull on to open the hood from the outside (and a useless plastic lever in the truck). I made the coil small enough so I can push it into the grill, and big enough that it won't pop out while I'm driving.

Not ideal, but it hasn't given me nearly the trouble the interior plastic lever did.

-Hal

[LJP_GURU]

Well, I will give it a shot. As long as I can get access is the most important to me. Thanks

[yeags]

I'm not sure if this will help you or not. My cable was intact, but the spring around the latch release was bad. If your cable snapped, then this won't help you. But, for what it's worth...

I have a 98 S10 Blazer, and I also had a problem with the hood not popping with the inside cable (among other things). As I pulled the lever, I could hear the latch trying to work, but the hood wouldn't release, and the lever wouldn't return without pushing back down on the hood. My fix was pretty simple, and it took less than 30 minutes.

First, I went to Home Depot and bought a spring similar to the one that is installed on the hood rerlease cable (I got a package of 4 for $2.00).

Next, I unhooked the cable from the latch assembly, unbolted the latch assembly from the truck, cleaned it very well (another post said there was too much friction to pull release the lever) and greased the daylights out of it. Then I reinstalled the latch.

Finally, I added one of the springs I bought to the inside of the release cable (in between the old spring and the cable housing). I installed the cable into the clip with the factory spring on the outside of the clip (inbetween the clip and the end of the cable), and the new spring in between the clip and the cable housing.

The hood un latches like a champ, and the lever returns to its starting position like it did when it was new.


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[Blind]

that's exactly what was wrong with mine, thanks for the idea of adding a second spring!

I have mine temp fixed right now with a 1/4" nylon spacer I cut a slot into that I slipped over the cable between the dead spring and the latch.

it kind of works, but that 2nd spring to add extra tension looks to be a much better solution

[LJP_GURU]

Well I did get the hood open and by dumb luck too. It was minus 40 when I was attempting to open the hood and the cable snap. I was going to attempt field surgery as per Hal's suggestion but with it so cold I had to pull it into the bay at work. I let it sit inside for almost two hours and warm up from the elements. My dumb luck is when I went to start carefully cutting the sheath to expose the cable I jiggle the hood a couple of times and viola it popped up. When I looked at the latch assembly it was filthy I could hardly move it. So I cleaned it up, pulled the cable out and coiled it up just like Hal suggested and now it hangs inside the grill to grab. It works ok and will do until it warms up and then I might try to replace it. Thanks for the posts.

[HalJason]

Mine has been in "open from the outside" mode for a few years now. The way I see it, if someone opens the hood and mucks around with the engine in my 1995 VIN-W, OBD-II (1.5?) blazer, they're as likely to fix something as they are to hurt something.

At least I know if they're going to steal my plugs, or my EGR, or anything aside from an air filter, they'll be wrenching long enough for me to come along and help.

-Hal

[LJP_GURU]

Hal,

Touché

You just made me roar out loud with laughter! Too funny. I have many problems with my rig now as the previous owner trashed it. There are more problems than I can mention in one thread. I just wanted to open the hood and check a couple of vacuum switches as my 4WD does not engage so the battle continues...........

[yeags]

Originally Posted by Blind

that's exactly what was wrong with mine, thanks for the idea of adding a second spring!

I have mine temp fixed right now with a 1/4" nylon spacer I cut a slot into that I slipped over the cable between the dead spring and the latch.

it kind of works, but that 2nd spring to add extra tension looks to be a much better solution

Blind-

In mine, the release mechanism was really loaded up with junk. When I took it out and cleaned it, I think that made as much of a difference as anything. I think you can also buy a new latch for less than $20.00 if you'd rather have new instead of cleaning...

Good luck!!