sktn77a

iTrader: (2)

This one has definitely foxed me. The hood latch lever inside the car was hanging loose so I naturally assumed the cable had stretched. Only it just started happening this morning. A stretched cable would surely have gradually elongated over months/years, n'est-ce pas? And it will open the latch if you pull it hard enough, so it's not broken. In addition, the hood will basically not latch when I drop it. I had to screw the bumpers in as far as they will go and really push it down to get it to latch. Broken latch? But then why is there excess cable inside the car like it has stretched if the latch has broken?

Any ideas?

salimshah

We can speculate, but you need to open the hood to make the real determination.

Steel cable should not stretch, but if it is rubbing instead of sliding it can be worn to a point where the last few strands would stretch and break. Once the cable is severed the cabin end would flop down and the latch end would not release.
The jacket [sheathing] may also be dislodged ... the action is between the jacket and the cable.
The latch hook can be mechanically damaged.

Based on previous posts, the hood latch malfunction caused quite a bit of aggravation. You may have to go to a body shop. Once release, make sure everything works before attempting to fully close the hood. You can rely on the secondary latch, but use a bungee cord and drive slow without the primary latch.

Salim

sktn77a

iTrader: (2)

Yes, I'm thinking of taking it to a body shop, rather than the dealer's service department (hopefully that will cost a lot less). The hood release does work - I can eventually open it (pulling real hard and far back) and I can close the hood with a good slam and with the bumpers fully screwed in. Just can't make any sense of what's going on.