Hood Release

[TheDeal526]

2001 Ford Escort ZX2, 2.0L L4, 98,000 miles

I just picked this car up, and I noticed the person who sold it to me didn't seem to have any trouble opening the hood. But I can't seem to get it open. When I pull the hood release, nothing seems to happen. Is there anything in particular I need to do, or could the hood release cable have failed? If it's the hood release cable, does anyone know how much trouble it would be to replace that?

Thanks All!!!

[AzTumbleweed]

Sometimes they hang up. Try pushing the hood down first then pull up. If that opens it then ya need a little WD-40.

[TheDeal526]

thanks. i will give that a shot.

[denisond3]

The cables can break - but arent too hard to replace, once you get the hood open. I usually go to a junkyard and scope out what I have to push or lever to get the latch to release.
I have had problems where the hood on my Escort would not open if the car was parked on uneven ground- such as with one front wheel being noticeably higher or lower, and thereby giving a slight twist to the car. It worked find when I moved it to a different spot.

[TheDeal526]

My mechanic said the hood release cable is fine. But the little knobs that the hood rests on was out of adjustment. Only now the hood doesn't seem to be perfectly flush with the body of the car. There is a very small gap at the front of the hood on the sides. Is this normal?

[Davescort97]

To get the tension off of the latch assembly the hood had to be raised a little bit. You could lower the stops yourself until the latch won't release. He could have raised it too much.

[AzTumbleweed]

It's possible the mounting bolt holes for the latch are slotted. You can loosen them and move latch up or down as needed. Try WD-40 on the latch too.

[denisond3]

The hood originally would have had a gap along each side that was the same on left and right, and a slightly larger gap on the front. The width of the front gap is hard to tell, due to the sort of overlap of hood over the grille piece. At least that is the way it is on my 92 and 94 Escorts.
And if you are able to get the hood lined up as well as it was from the factor - you are doing pretty well. Im satisfied if it stays latched on the highway; and opens when I pull the release.