What to Do If the Hood Won't Open?
2 Answers
Solutions for when the hood won't open are: 1. There is a hood button under the car's steering wheel—pull it to open the hood; 2. Crawl under the car and use a wire to reach the hood lock hole from below the engine to open the front hood; 3. Open the driver's door, remove the seal near the window, create a hook with thick wire, insert it into the lower right corner to unlatch the door motor, and the hood will open. The hood is made of rubber foam and aluminum foil materials, which reduce engine noise while isolating heat generated during engine operation, effectively protecting the paint on the hood surface and preventing aging.
I've encountered the issue of the hood not opening several times, mostly due to the release cable getting stuck in a corner of the engine bay or the latch rusting or freezing. I'd suggest not pulling too hard right away, as breaking the cable would make things worse. Try gently pulling the release lever inside the cabin multiple times to see if there's any looseness. If that doesn't work, have a friend lightly press down on the front edge of the hood while you operate the release lever to relieve tension. For rust, spray some WD-40 or silicone lubricant on the latch, wait a few minutes for it to penetrate, then try again. In winter, prevent freezing by using a de-icer or carefully melting ice with warm water. For prevention, dry the latch area after washing the car and apply some grease every season to prevent rust. If it still won't open, it's best to visit a professional repair shop to avoid damaging more parts. Safety first—make sure the car is stable when handling this.
