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Hood release Question

20K views 10 replies 6 participants last post by  *BabyGirlJJ* 
#1 ·
Ok here goes.... I have a BIG problem that we are trying to figure out.... :(

Got home today and attempted to pop my hood - pulled the handle inside the little lady and sure enough NOTHING - no release of the hood to open it!
So we attempted to give it a few good fist hits while pulling the handle... Nothing again.... tried to take a flathead and open the latch manually - again fail!!!
:mad::mad::mad::mad:

I am not sure what happened or if anyone can give some insight on what to try but the handle inside the Jeep is attached to the cable & it has play. It's missing that tension on the engine side of it to pull it back into right place... Is there a spring on one end that might possibly be broke??

Anyone have any ideas on what to try or how I can get my hood open??? Possibly what could have happened???
 
#2 ·
Can you get a grip on just the cable and pull it? If not...sounds like the cable is broken or broken where it mounts to the latch
 
#3 ·
We attempted to pull the cable from the inside as it's securely attached to the handle....

From the engine portion - we attempted to get a pair of needle nose on it and it's a tight fit... we did take a flathead screwdriver and push the latch itself but this didn't do anything in releasing the hood either...
It's almost like there is something that allows the release before the lever to open the hood is not working correctly....

If there is a spring - or there like you said - a detach somewhere along the line! UGH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Any ideas on how I can get into this any other way?

I swear the issues she has put Mr. Jlew and myself through this past week - she's about to be put on a tow truck to wave goodbye to her for the last time... :D
 
#4 ·
sounds like its broken. Most vehicles have a sheath that covers the actual wire and the wire on the inside of the sheath breaks. I would call your dealer and talk to a tech and see if they have any ideas the best way to get it open.
 
#5 ·
Great Scott!!! Thank you for the suggestions and replies! I am seriously at a loss thought process right now...

I will try to check it out some more and see if I can't find something more with it...

Then call the dealership too!..... UGH!

Soon to trade in time I'm sayin!
 
#6 ·
What year is your Libby? My 03 had some hood release issues. Sometimes I had to wack the top of hood above the latch to get it to release. Another time I had to pry the hood up a little (with a thin piece of wood to avoid scratching the paint) while someone else pulled on the hood release.
 
#7 ·
sorry JJ, I don't frequent this forum as often as I should... not that I have a lot of information to add to what Scott has suggested. I have dealt with this before (not on a liberty) but basically you need to get ahold of the lever in the latch mechanism that the cable goes to and tug on that. Actually come to think of it, last time I did it nothing was broken, the only problem was the sheath portion as Scott mentioned, it mounts in the latch to remain stationary, it had popped out of its retainer. I was able to open the hood by getting some pliers on the cable and just pulling on the cable itself through the grill.
 
#8 ·
I'll bet your local fire dept. can get it open. I know I would be more than happy to use some of our tools to pop a hood for someone.......... of course you may not like the damage that they cause ha ha. I would talk to a local body shop, they deal with problems getting hoods open all the time from wreck damage and usually have some pretty good tricks. A decent shop would do it free in the parking lot but you never know.
 
#11 ·
Well fellas - thanks for all the replies! :D TO be honest on this one - the cable got stretched or something and detached in our "troubleshooting".... :D So my BF unscrewed the latch from the frame and opened the hood manually - to find the specific lever that we can open it with manually!

NOW - I know I "should" fix this - as we still do maintenance on the little lady! BUTTTTTT -

She is going to be retired real soon as this girlie is going to be getting a new addition to the Jeep family with the purchase of a Wrangler! So I have not wanted to put any extra money in it that really wasn't "needed" :D

Yes and old thread gents - but ...... thanks for responding! Advice is always appreciated from other Jeepers! :D
 
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