How to Open a Car Hood When the Latch Doesn't Work

Don't panic if you can't seem to open your hood due to a broken latch.

Normally when you open the hood on your car, you pull the release latch located on the interior driver's side. Sometimes the release latch can break or stick. The hood release cable can break or seize. There is a method to open the hood when the latch is broken.

Considerations

When you pull on the hood release latch and it retracts normally but the hood does not open, your latch is jammed or broken. Ask someone to pull up on the hood while you pull on the release latch. If the hood does not open, you can rule out a jam in the mechanism.

Solution

Use a flashlight to illuminate the latch under the front of the hood. Take a long tool such as a screwdriver and manipulate the latch until it releases. Have someone put gentle upward pressure on the hood while you are doing this to prevent the spring-loaded latch from snapping shut from the weight of the hood.

Caution

While you are poking around under the car hood with a screwdriver, be very cautious about what you touch. Sensitive parts such as the condenser coil for the air conditioning unit may be within your reach. Puncturing this or other components can be costly to repair.

References

• Car Talk: Hood Latch Problems