broken hood release

First, this is not a cable problem... the release latch it broken or disconnected from the cable. We have tried everything to get it open, and i drive 100000 miles a year, i NEED to change the oil ASAP (its 8000 miles overdue) PLEASE help me with ideas on how to get the darn hood open. My fiance and i are at wits end (and eachothers necks). I gotta get this fixed today! Is there an alternate way to open this? I dont mind disassembling the front end, just tell me what i need to do please!

First, this is not a cable problem... the release latch it broken or disconnected from the cable. We have tried everything to get it open, and i drive 100000 miles a year, i NEED to change the oil ASAP (its 8000 miles overdue) PLEASE help me with ideas on how to get the darn hood open. My fiance and i are at wits end (and eachothers necks). I gotta get this fixed today! Is there an alternate way to open this? I dont mind disassembling the front end, just tell me what i need to do please!

Get under your front end and reach up and unlatch it.

That or take it to the mechanics and have them fix it.

Going for 8000miles over on your because of something as minor as this is just plain stupidity.

Smarten up.

get a couple of long extensions and unbolt the latch

Have you tried the bump technique? Have some one pull the lever and hold it while you bump the front corner of the hood with your hand. If it pops up, oil the latch and you shouldn't have anymore problems.

Once you get it open make sure the bumpers on the sides arent extended all the way up. It could cause problems with opening (mine was like that till I lowered them). Something about them making the hood bind on the latch and the pressure wouldnt let it release.

weve tried bumping it, everything, The cable has disconnected from the latch. We cant get at it from underneath because there is only about 3 inches in there plus the shield is in the way. And going 8000 miles over on an oil change in a car that runs over 1000 miles a year is normal. We burn 2-4 thousand miles a week. So its not like ive not changed the oil in months. is there a way to disassemble the latch from the outside?

And going 8000 miles over on an oil change in a car that runs over 1000 miles a year is normal.

Just because its normal doesnt mean its good....
After awhile, the oil breaks down, hence the recommended oil change every 3 months/3000 miles. Sure it can be pushed off a bit, but at 8000 past that is highly neglected. Crappy anology: You get home from work and head into the shower. You take your washcloth and soap it up. Then the next 10 showers you dont bother to soap it up the cloth cause its "still got some soap from the first time I soaped it up". Meanwhile the soap has been washed off and its losing its effectivness. Same thing (although in different terms) is happening here. Everytime the oil is heated up, its losing part of its lubricants. So after a certain point its no good and NEEDS to be replaced.


We burn 2-4 thousand miles a week
What the hell is the truck used for where its being driven between 286 and 571 miles a day? I cant even imagine driving that much day after day after day......

hence the recommended oil change every 3 months/3000 miles...

Let's not go overboard here, the 3 month/3000mile change interval is a myth.

With that being said, it does not give the excuse that you should go 8000 miles OVER the change interval without at least checking the oil.

Also, a normal oil filter is not meant to handle 8000+ miles worth of filtering unless you go with a Fram Extended guard X2 filter or an extended mileage filter.

First we checked the oil every fill up and at that many miles thats 2 times a day (up until the last 2 weeks) Second, the car is used as a pilot car. I escort oversized loads. Third, im switching to an extended mile filter and a 25000 mile oil. Should help with costs, its moe up front but less changes. Anyway, we got the hood open tonight, there is a part of the latch for the release that broke and im heading to the junk yard tomorrow to get a replacement latch assembly. for the mean time, it is held shut with a brake cable off a bike. I guess itll hold till i replace it tomorrow, but i take no credit for the way it was rigged, my boyfriend did it.

First we checked the oil every fill up and at that many miles thats 2 times a day (up until the last 2 weeks) Second, the car is used as a pilot car. I escort oversized loads. Third, im switching to an extended mile filter and a 25000 mile oil. Should help with costs, its moe up front but less changes. Anyway, we got the hood open tonight, there is a part of the latch for the release that broke and im heading to the junk yard tomorrow to get a replacement latch assembly. for the mean time, it is held shut with a brake cable off a bike. I guess itll hold till i replace it tomorrow, but i take no credit for the way it was rigged, my boyfriend did it.

Ah, I take it you are thinkin on using Amsoil.

Use a Fram Extended guard X2 filter (NOT THE ORANGE EXTRA GUARD!!!) and change it every 6 months and top up the oil with the quart you lose.

Also, I would follow it up with a oil analysis. http://www.blackstone-labs.com

Ah, I take it you are thinkin on using Amsoil.

Use a Fram Extended guard X2 filter (NOT THE ORANGE EXTRA GUARD!!!) and change it every 6 months and top up the oil with the quart you lose.

Also, I would follow it up with a oil analysis. http://www.blackstone-labs.com

The Fram Extended guard X2 filters I used to use said they were good for 7,000, do you think the filter and amsoil can really last 50,000 miles?

The Fram Extended guard X2 filters I used to use said they were good for 7,000, do you think the filter and amsoil can really last 50,000 miles?

Whoa, where did 50,000 miles come from?

The X2 can last for over 7000 miles. On a clean engine that is mostly highway driven I would say to change the filter every 10,000 miles.

Whoa, where did 50,000 miles come from?

The X2 can last for over 7000 miles. On a clean engine that is mostly highway driven I would say to change the filter every 10,000 miles.

She said that she drives 100,000 miles a year. You told her to use a Fram X2 and change it every 6 months, that would be 50,000 miles.

I was pretty sure that you didn't mean to tell her to change it at 50,000 miles....that's why I said something.

i've had that happen ... use slot screw driver, or whatever that will fit in there from front, move the 2mm thick round lever which has loop on end, to the right ... with pressure down on hood if necessary ... my cable broke of where it attachs to eye ... had to pull cable out and work new one thru from driver side and bend it around eye, as well as use 1" ring clamp driver side to pull on.

She said that she drives 100,000 miles a year. You told her to use a Fram X2 and change it every 6 months, that would be 50,000 miles.

I was pretty sure that you didn't mean to tell her to change it at 50,000 miles....that's why I said something.

Change it whenever you want.