[MoparJeff]

Decided to start resurrecting my daughter's Shadow that has been sitting for a few years.

Great idea until I discovered the hood latch is frozen shut. Gave the release a few good yanks but didn't want to break it.

Any good ideas on how to get it released if the cable won't do it?

 

[valiant67]

Get someone to pound on the edge of the hood above the latch while the release is held open. Sometimes that will work.

 

[Rickorino]

Have someone push down on the hood while pulling on the release lever.

 

[MoparJeff]

Thanks for the replies!

Had my son pumping the hood (said he felt like he was doing CPR--- how appropriate!) while I yanked on the lever until it started to bend.... no luck

Will keep shooting WD40 and rust penetrator in the general area and will see what the next couple days bring...... in the meantime, any other suggestions gratefully accepted

I do not think any of it is acessible from underneath, seems like the radiator and other structure would be in the way...

 

[Bob Lincoln]

The latch, if accessible, would be from below, and in front of the radiator.

 

[MoparJeff]

OK, daily doses of rust buster (as best I could do in general area of latch between hood and fascia/grill), CPR on the hood while yanking on the handle, and we are still stuck.

If I can get to it from underneath, any tips? Cable end assembly looks pretty secure (and not enough room in there to fit a sledge hammer up there lol).

Really don't want to break anything, I have been searching the world wide web and don't see any replacement cables/handles available if I do bust it trying to get it open.

This issue and weather too cold for my old bones = AAAARRRGGGGHHH!

Thanks again for any replies and tips!

 

[chuzz]

Have you tired heat, Jeff? Now I don't mean take a propane torch to it and heat it until the paint blisters off, but maybe a heat gun. If you don't have a heat gun, then a propane torch, but not too close to the paint. Of course if the paint is crappy anyway, it won't make too much of a difference, will it?

 

[MoparJeff]

No, I haven't tried heat, been a week or two now since I tried much anythng so dang cold around here......

And Yes, blistering the paint would in fact represent a cosmetic improvement!

 

[ImperialCrown]

Sometimes the mechanical shock of a fist thump will do more than pushing up and down on it.
The latch can be actuated manually from underneath if needed with a long narrow flatblade screwdriver.

 

[gearhead2578]

Sounds like all you guys have been there before! As a last resort, I've made sure I could replace the grille cheap from a pic a part and just smash the old one out to get to the hood latch and unbolt/cut/pry/whatever..... Much easier to work with without the grille in the way.

 

[MoparJeff]

Update- Hood opened today using a screwdriver from underneath... WAHOO!

Cable assembly still all frozen, and return spring is busted, but at least I can see things standing up instead of flat on my back now!