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MG MGB Technical - Hood's stuck!

While on a short trip recently, I did have to raise my hood at one point, and had no problem in doing so. However, before I returned from my destination, I wanted to check under the hood again just to make sure everything was in good working order because I'd be driving a while and didn't know anyone in between. Unfortunately, the hood somehow got stuck shut, and now I can't get it open. Anyone had this problem before, or know what the likely cause would be? I didn't shut the hood harder than normal, the release sounds like it's working inside the car because I can hear it pop, and I maneuvered a can of WD-40 to spray at the latch but it doesn't seem to be doing anything to help. My main suspicion at this time is that it feels like the lever you pull on to completely release it (in the grill) might be hitting the frame. Is this possible? If so, or if not, what is the recommended action at this point to get my hood up? I really don't want to drive it again when it's like this.

Jeremy
Jeremy

Nobody has responded here in several days so I try to take a whack at it.

Off hand, it sounds like a loose half of either one of the two locking mechanisms has worked it's way
loose and moved to a point where the latch can't be pulled far enough to get it to release.

What year car do you have?

What happens when you pull the hood release cable?

Does the hood at least open partially?...or does nothing at all happen (besides hearing it pop)?

After pulling on the release and hearing it pop - can you grab the forward edge of the hood and get
it to raise about and inch or so before the second (safety) latch engages?

You might try sliding a thin piece of metal under the leading edge of the hood (about the size of
an 18" ruler) and poke around until you can manuveur the loose catch to clear.

If you manage to get the hood to open this way, inspect both hood latches. You'll see where they
were previously positioned by the "ghost" left on the paint. Return them to these positions and
make sure that they are tightened down.

While you're at it, you might want to consider installing a second hood release - just in case the
stock release cable ever breaks off in the future. Basically, you drill a small 3/16" hole on the primary
hood catch lever and attach a steel cable there (ie: a bicycle brake cable), then route the other end
of the cable through the rubber wiring grommet inside the left fender (near the horn). Get under the left wheel well and fashion a loop on the end of the cable and let it hang next to the left headlamp bucket. Now if the stock hood release cable ever breaks - you just turn the steering wheel to the right,
then reach under the left fender and pull on the second release.
Daniel Wong

Thanks for the help. I actually called up a friend in my desperation and he came over to help. Seems somehow the latch holding the spring did get moved and it wasn't releasing. We had to take a crowbar to it to get it moved and popped, but then we just readjusted it and it's all good now. Scratched the paint a little, but it needed to be repainted anyway. Thanks again.

Jeremy

This thread was discussed between 05/09/2001 and 09/09/2001

MG MGB Technical index

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