C 4 hood

[Lyndon S.]

now my hood wont open! I know I will need the tool to open it, but what parts will I need to fix it? Any of them still from GM.

[Bill H.]

Re: C 4 hood

The tool's easy to make. A 2 ft. piece of 1/4 in round stock (HomeD). The overall length - about 19 in, the short leg is 1 1/4 and the other leg fits your hand, 4 in., whatever. Put a mark at 13 in. from the short leg (line that mark up with the edge of the hood and the short leg will be close to the latch lever). This tool takes a lot of patience to use but really the only way to pop the latches. Some C4 owners put a short cable on the latch levers that lays in the cowl in case this happens again. It may be a broken cable, etc.

[Joe L.]

Re: C 4 hood

now my hood wont open! I know I will need the tool to open it, but what parts will I need to fix it? Any of them still from GM.

Lyndon-----


It may just be the handle that's broken where the cable attaches. This handle was an extremely flimsy design.

Anyway, the cable is still available from GM under GM #10250486. The handle is available under GM #10286183. This handle is not the same one as originally used for your car. That handle was GM #14047494 and was really problematic. Even the current handle, which was used on later C4's in PRODUCTION, didn't solve all the problems.

[Lyndon S.]

Re: C 4 hood

well I drove the car some then when I put in back in the garage I tried the hood an it opened. what could be going on with the hood, that it will open sometimes then others it will not open. when it did this the other day it flet like it was not even pulling on the cables, could they be stretched out and just wore out from the years?

[Joe L.]

Re: C 4 hood

well I drove the car some then when I put in back in the garage I tried the hood an it opened. what could be going on with the hood, that it will open sometimes then others it will not open. when it did this the other day it flet like it was not even pulling on the cables, could they be stretched out and just wore out from the years?

Lyndon-----


My guess is that it's the handle. I don't think you'd ever get enough stretch in the cable to cause any problem.

[Patrick N.]

Re: C 4 hood

well I drove the car some then when I put in back in the garage I tried the hood an it opened. what could be going on with the hood, that it will open sometimes then others it will not open. when it did this the other day it flet like it was not even pulling on the cables, could they be stretched out and just wore out from the years?

If the cable is not broken more often than not the release mech under the hood needs to be cleaned and lubricated. I've owned my 88 since 89 and had the same thing happen twice in its life. To get my hood open I sprayed a little WD with the plastic extension that goes to the nozzle into the release mech area and let it sit a bit. Once you get it open, clean and lubricate the release latches and you should be OK.