Hood stuck, how I got it open - CPR

[ChazzyD]

Went to Italian Car Day Atlanta last Saturday (miserable rainy day it was) and went to open the hood only to find that the p/s hood latch won't let go. This has happened only once before and it was a pain the last time to get it open. Lucky for me, I didn't need to do any roadside repairs on the way home. To get it open (working alone, because of a sick toddler, so no help from the wife) I had to attach a coat hanger to the pull cable by reaching up between the exhaust manifold and the radiator, you can find the cable way up there by the hood. Put a T handle on the end by wrapping the hanger around a screwdriver. Now pull hard and try to pull up on hood at the same time. After about a half hour, still now joy. So, I got more creative. Reached up between the headlight and the hood edge with a long pointy object (doesn't matter what you find for this) and and pull back the rubber seal between the hood and the bulkhead and sprayed some penetrating oil on the hood pin. Now, perform CPR on the hood right above the hood pin to work that spring and pin. Push down and let up several times like your saving its life! Now pull hood release, and pop! OPEN says me! That only took about an hour before I came up with a good plan. Cleaned up the hood pin and spring and the latch hole and wire spring release, applied some fresh grease to all, tightened the cable adjuster for more tension and crossed my fingers, dropped the hood back closed. Fortunately it opened right back up just fine. So maybe this is also a reminder to clean and grease the hood pins? Anyway, try the CPR method, it works if this happens to you.
Charles