Hood release cable shot?

[terriblenone]

I haven't been able to open the hood of my '89 CRX Si in a few days. At first I thought it might have been frozen shut in the -20 weather, but its still not opening after it warmed up a bunch.

I pull the lever inside the car: nothing. I know the cable's pulling, but obviously not enough.

I pull the cable that's attached to the lever to get some extra travel in the cable: still nothing. I can't seem to pull it far enough to hear a click or anything.

I'm almost positive the cable's not broken because there's still tension on it.

Is there a way to pop it by reaching underneath or something?

or, Is it expensive to replace a cable? Is it an easy DIY job?

Any help is appreciated!

Nate

[icE_x]

can u open the trunk with your key? try and see if maybe the cable itself broke off the trunk opener mechanism in the trunk. Or maybe that part is broken, and not the cable? Dealer would probably charge you some money because it's a specialty part

oh geez, i jus saw that you said your hood lol...sometimes mine wno't click and i hafta pull up on the hood and then try it again - then it clicks and opens fine. so try pulling the hood up and then use the lever again

[civicdemon91]

just run hood pins bust the latch an run hood pins

[SiZ]

You need to get another person.

Get one person to pull the lever inside the car until its tight, and another person to just give a quick downward shove right over where the latch is on top of the hood.

I have to do that with mine. (my Mazda and my Honda)

OH, and please don't run hood pins.. A new cable is <$30cdn at a Honda dealer, just replace it if it bothers you that much.

[4-Door Flunky]

The lever isn't getting a good 'bite' because the cable has slipped down in the mounting bracket.
The cable feeds into a bracket that also holds the lever that you are pulling on. Reach around behind that bracket with your right hand and feel the place where the cable comes in. If you push that cable up and hold it while you pull the lever with your left hand, it'll pop right open.
My car's been like that for years.
Flunky
PS-The only time it got really, really stuck is when I put a huge battery in it. It stuck up a little too high. I had to do the cable thing AND have someone shove down on the hood a little so it would let loose. Also, since our cars aren't very stiff, being parked on a sideways incline will also make it sticky. Moving it to a level spot will help if you have no helper and the cable trick doesn't work.

[terriblenone]

Originally Posted by 4-Door Flunky

The lever isn't getting a good 'bite' because the cable has slipped down in the mounting bracket.
The cable feeds into a bracket that also holds the lever that you are pulling on. Reach around behind that bracket with your right hand and feel the place where the cable comes in. If you push that cable up and hold it while you pull the lever with your left hand, it'll pop right open.
My car's been like that for years.
Flunky
PS-The only time it got really, really stuck is when I put a huge battery in it. It stuck up a little too high. I had to do the cable thing AND have someone shove down on the hood a little so it would let loose. Also, since our cars aren't very stiff, being parked on a sideways incline will also make it sticky. Moving it to a level spot will help if you have no helper and the cable trick doesn't work.

Right on, thanks a lot. I'll give that a shot later tonight.

Nate

[1PhatCX]

or if ur by urself, do what i do, open the door so ur standing between the door and the fender, use one hand to hold the lever up and the other to bash the center of the hood till it pops open