Hood Release Help!

[paul_haga]

Hi All! I was at an event last night and went to open my hood. Nothing. The cable is still attached to the release lever in the cabin so my thought is that it either came apart at the latch end or the cable snapped. I didn't feel/hear it snap, though. Just pulled it and nothing happened. Does anyone have any tips on how to break into my luggage compartment without using a cutting torch?? ;) I've pulled back the weather stripping and even removed the passenger windshield wiper to get better access. Still can't get that latch to budge.

Any tips would be MUCH appreciated!

Also, I have an '81 with a gas flap hood so I'm not in any danger of running out of fuel. I do also have stuff (mostly cleaning supplies, manuals, tools and a camp chair) in the luggage compartment so I think the old 80's tech bulletin that tells you go to in from the bottom would be useless.

Thanks!

-Paul

[Shep]

My guess is the cable snapped somewhere along the line. Sounds like you don't have a backup cable installed. The DeLorean Mailing List (a.k.a. "DML") has a section on this, with three different procedures here:
http://www.dmcnews.com/Techsection/trunkcable.html

The one Rob Grady mentioned seems relatively easy. Basically you pull up on the passenger side of the trunk enough to create a gap, then take a long, thin, and rigid rod and move the latch mechanism manually, releasing the trunk. If that doesn't work, there's two other things you can try at that link. Once you've released the hood, I strongly recommend getting the brake cable off of a bicycle (handle included) and routing it similarly so it serves as a backup. That gives you an alternative until you get a new trunk cable (don't wait too long though, you don't want both to snap). You can find more details on the backup release cable by searching the forums.

There's a bunch more tech tips on the DeLorean Mailing List here:
http://www.dmcnews.com/techmain.htm

Hope it works! :thumbup:

[Bitsyncmaster]

Try pushing down in the center near the latch on the hood while you pull the handle and see if it opens.

[dvonk]

this thread (http://dmctalk.org/showthread.php?304-Hood-release-cable-is-no-longer-working-release-Any-options) may be of use to you.

[Shep]

this thread (http://dmctalk.org/showthread.php?304-Hood-release-cable-is-no-longer-working-release-Any-options) may be of use to you.Posts #3 and #11 of that thread describe the backup cable I was talking about.

Interesting, I had always thought you were supposed to open the hood with two hands, one on the lever and one on the hood. When I pull the lever, my hood doesn't budge; I have to lift it with my left hand to get it going. I always thought the hood was just heavy or something (our Jag hood that opens the same way has huge springs that the DeLorean lacks). I'll have to investigate that when I get it back.

[dmc6960]

Paul had called me this afternoon about this problem. After some practice with my own car (pretty easy when you have a hood that still opens) I got a bent coat hanger at all the right angles ready to go. I can pop it in 30-120 seconds. If Paul is unable to get it himself he is probably going to stop by my place this week and I'll give it a go.

[dmc6960]

Took a little longer than it did on my own car, but I was able to get Paul's hood open last night. Once open, we found the problem to be a missing cotter pin on the clevis pin connecting the release cable to the latch. This caused the clevis pin to back out until it finally fell off. Also discovered once open was a broken latch spring. It is unknown if it was broken before hand or if somehow I managed to break it with my "tool". Either way, I scrounged up a suitable replacement spring from my engine cover latch I had sitting in a box and used a wire as a temporary cotter pin. Hood release was back in business. Also took care of a few other minor issues on his car, including fixing a loose electrical connection on the starter circuit modification, installing/testing the DMCMW Fan Controller, and providing a lock washer to shim out his stainless shifter ball to properly align it when tightened.

Productive night, now I just got to figure out why Google has my address wrong.

[Jonathan]

Interesting, I had always thought you were supposed to open the hood with two hands, one on the lever and one on the hood. When I pull the lever, my hood doesn't budge; I have to lift it with my left hand to get it going. I always thought the hood was just heavy or something (our Jag hood that opens the same way has huge springs that the DeLorean lacks). I'll have to investigate that when I get it back.

Good point. I am in the same boat. I'd be interested in hearing what others do with their hood. Do you pull the lever and have your hood wonderfully pop up by the shear force of the latch spring high enough that it doesn't re-catch on the latch? Or do you pull the lever with your right hand while getting ready to pull up on the corner of the hood with your left hand? I need to use two hands because mine doesn't "pop" up, and if you don't lift it while the latch is levered, it just re-catches itself on the latch. Are there adjustments I could make to rid myself of the two handed hood opening?

[jawn101]

Good point. I am in the same boat. I'd be interested in hearing what others do with their hood. Do you pull the lever and have your hood wonderfully pop up by the shear force of the latch spring high enough that it doesn't re-catch on the latch? Or do you pull the lever with your right hand while getting ready to pull up on the corner of the hood with your left hand? I need to use two hands because mine doesn't "pop" up, and if you don't lift it while the latch is levered, it just re-catches itself on the latch. Are there adjustments I could make to rid myself of the two handed hood opening?

I don't know what adjustments could be made, but my hood pops up about 1/4" and doesn't re-catch when the handle is released. It seems to me that this is definitely the way it should work, but again - I don't know what can be done to make it happen if it's not.

[Tillsy]

I'd be interested in hearing what others do with their hood. Do you pull the lever and have your hood wonderfully pop up by the shear force of the latch spring high enough that it doesn't re-catch on the latch?

Yes, I pull the lever and my hoods pops up a few centimetres and stays there until I go lift her the rest of the way.

[dmc6960]

If anybody's hood doesn't stay "popped" after pulling the release, call Dave at DMCMW and order a new spring. He has one that'll fix that right up.

[Shep]

If anybody's hood doesn't stay "popped" after pulling the release, call Dave at DMCMW and order a new spring. He has one that'll fix that right up.Just the one? Man, I wanted one, but if someone else gets to it first...

Sorry, couldn't resist :giggle:

Anyways, mine behaves exactly like Jonathan's: there's no movement from the hood when I pull the lever. No movement, no sound, basically no indication that anything happened other than the fact that I can lift it up with my left hand. If that spring's gone bad, the mechanism itself may be on the verge too. I need to get that backup cable installed pronto.

[David T]

If your hood does not pop up there are a couple of things you have to do. First make sure the hood release cable is working properly. Next you have to make sure the loop on the hood is falling into the CENTER of the latch and not rubbing heavily on either side. Finally the smaller spring needs to be shortened. Highly recommended to install a back-up cable for the hood release. Also on most cars the latch is too high. The holes where it is bolted to the body are elongated but are still not enough to lower the hood so it is even with both fenders. Remove the bumpers by the windscreen and file the holes in the latch and adjust till the hood is slightly below the fenders. now put the bumpers back and adjust them so they slightly push the hood back up even with the fenders. Now when you are driving you won't see the hood shake.
David Teitelbaum

[Shep]

If your hood does not pop up there are a couple of things you have to do. First make sure the hood release cable is working properly. Next you have to make sure the loop on the hood is falling into the CENTER of the latch and not rubbing heavily on either side. Finally the smaller spring needs to be shortened. Highly recommended to install a back-up cable for the hood release. Also on most cars the latch is too high. The holes where it is bolted to the body are elongated but are still not enough to lower the hood so it is even with both fenders. Remove the bumpers by the windscreen and file the holes in the latch and adjust till the hood is slightly below the fenders. now put the bumpers back and adjust them so they slightly push the hood back up even with the fenders. Now when you are driving you won't see the hood shake.
David TeitelbaumWait wait wait, all of that just to get the hood to pop up a quarter inch when I pull the release handle? I've dealt with Murphy's Law enough this past week, best not to tempt fate. I'm perfectly fine with doing it the way I've always done it if it's that complicated to fix...

EDIT:
Nevermind, misread that. I thought you were talking about removing and reworking fairly large parts and filling in holes with bondo or something. My bad, disregard.

[jawn101]

Wait wait wait, all of that just to get the hood to pop up a quarter inch when I pull the release handle? I've dealt with Murphy's Law enough this past week, best not to tempt fate. I'm perfectly fine with doing it the way I've always done it if it's that complicated to fix...

This isn't really much work. Perhaps you were confusing David's choice of the word "bumpers" with "fenders" ? He just means the rubber tipped screw stops at either corner of the hood.

[Shep]

Perhaps you were confusing David's choice of the word "bumpers" with [...] the rubber tipped screw stops at either corner of the hood.So it seems I was. Previous post edited. Still not going to tempt fate though.

[DeLorean]

I don't know what adjustments could be made, but my hood pops up about 1/4" and doesn't re-catch when the handle is released. It seems to me that this is definitely the way it should work, but again - I don't know what can be done to make it happen if it's not.

These Deloreans... Mine pops up when you pull the release, but not very much at all, and typically if I don't do it 2 handed, it will re-latch itself. My engine cover is also a 2 handed affair, which is a bit more difficult...

Also mine had the same problem with that pin falling out. Get rid of it, install a screw with a nyloc nut, it won't fall off again.

[SS Spoiler]

With a gas flap hood, I rigged up a stiff wire to hide just under the edge, bent a nice loop in it for a handle, and ran the other end to to the latch clevis. Now I flip up gas flap, pull the wire/rod and popped the hood without opening the car door.
So far no ones stolen anything from the trunk [did this 24 years ago]

[Shep]

My engine cover is also a 2 handed affair, which is a bit more difficult...Forgive my ignorance, but how do you use two hands on the engine cover? One hand on the louver loop pulling up... where's the other hand? :confused0:

[DMCMW Dave]

Forgive my ignorance, but how do you use two hands on the engine cover? One hand on the louver loop pulling up... where's the other hand? :confused0:

Pulling the release handle.

[Tillsy]

where's the other hand? :confused0:

Rather personal question isn't it? :evilgrin:

[DeLorean]

I reach waaaay back with my right hand, get a fingernail in the rear vent for the engine cover and lift very slightly, while pulling the release. Gets it up just enough, and then I can walk back and open it normally.

Does the trick!

[Shep]

Pulling the release handle.Ah, completely forgot about that. Mine never did anything; the louvers were always unlatched. Guess I got used to the driver's side strut bracket being broken and misaligning everything. Now that it's fixed, that might change...

Or is it the lower flat cover that latches?


Rather personal question isn't it? :evilgrin::hysterical:

[jawn101]

Ah, completely forgot about that. Mine never did anything; the louvers were always unlatched. Guess I got used to the driver's side strut bracket being broken and misaligning everything. Now that it's fixed, that might change...

Or is it the lower flat cover that latches?

:hysterical:

The lower cover latches. It is released by way of a cable actuated handle behind the driver's seat. The upper cover is released just by lifting the latch on the outside and raising it.

[Shep]

The lower cover latches. It is released by way of a cable actuated handle behind the driver's seat. The upper cover is released just by lifting the latch on the outside and raising it.Interesting, mine doesn't latch. I don't think it has in years...

Besides rattling around, are there any drawbacks to it not latching?

[jawn101]

Interesting, mine doesn't latch. I don't think it has in years...

Besides rattling around, are there any drawbacks to it not latching?

Not if you're ok with the fact that any old passer-by can open your engine bay and steal your precious jiggawatts.... :)

[Shep]

Not if you're ok with the fact that any old passer-by can open your engine bay and steal your precious jiggawatts.... :)They may be able to start the engine under the right conditions, but they still need access to the main cabin to get it out of park, steer it, or kill the engine. And once they have access to the main cabin, they can start the engine much easier anyways, without fiddling with the engine bay. It's not much of a deterrent, and it's faster to get to the engine if it doesn't latch, which comes in handy in the event of a mechanical emergency.