How to open the hood from the outside if the cable is broken, the lock is broken or frozen

Situations when a car owner tries to open the hood from the passenger compartment, but fails to do so in the prescribed manner, happen often.

There are many ways to solve the problem, but which one to use depends on the brand of car and the reasons that led to this problem.

Below we present ways to open the hood from the outside and highlight the features for different brands / models of cars, and also dwell in more detail on the models: Lada Kalina, Priora, VAZ 2109, 2110, 2114, 2115, Ford Focus 3, Hyundai Solaris, Chevrolet Cruze, Kio Rio 2 , Kia Cerato.

Reasons why the hood does not open and how to eliminate them

The experience of car owners allows us to identify the main reasons that lead to difficulties when opening the hood in the normal way.

Let's highlight the main ones.

Stretching of the cable during operation and its inability to tighten the latch.

The problem can be easily recognized by weak lever resistance. To open, remove the adjusting handle and casing, and then pull the cable itself. To eliminate the problem, adjust the length of the cable.

Low battery and no power to the opening device.

Relevant for cars where the hood is opened using an electromechanical lock.

To solve the problem, use a spare cable or an additional battery.

The solution is to charge the battery to the desired level, but first you will need to get there.

Wear of lock latches due to poor lubrication.

To open the hood, press it where it locks and at the same time press the lever. After this, clean and lubricate the system elements. You will need the help of an assistant.

A broken or slipped cable that does not pull the latch.

Correct the problem by searching for a break, tightening the remaining part, or gaining access to the latch. In the future, immediately replace the cable.

Mechanical fault of the lock.

If the mechanism does not open in cold weather, try to get to the lock using a loop made of wire, remove the radiator grille, headlight and fender liner. After successful opening, repair the lock.

You may have to crawl under the car (depending on the vehicle model).

Freezing of lock elements.

Heat the locking mechanism, and to do this, warm up the car as a whole or locally, warm up the engine.

Press the hood in the area where it is secured to break up the ice crust. Once you have managed to open the hood from the outside, clean and lubricate the system components.

Above are the main reasons why the hood does not open and ways to solve the problem.

The main thing at this stage is to correctly diagnose the malfunction based on the existing symptoms.

Use a pillow

There are offices in nature that are engaged in the legal opening of locked cars. Their employees use a device that resembles an inflatable cushion, similar to a cuff, which measures blood pressure. It is slipped into the gap between the hood and the front of the car, or between the door and the pillar, and inflated.

At the same time, the gap increases, opening up the working space, and then special tools are used to unlock the lock. It’s unlikely that the average owner has such gizmos in his arsenal, although sometimes they come in handy. Inflatable “pillows,” for example, are commercially available and are relatively inexpensive.

How to open the hood if the cable is broken

A broken cable can be easily recognized by the loose movement of the lever to open the hood.

If there is a break near the handle, it is enough to replace it and then tighten it using pliers.

If the cable near the lock is damaged, you will have to look for exits to the latch and bend it.
If the break occurs under the hood, as an option, you can crawl up from the bottom and pull the cable with pliers.

Let's look at the situation with different places where the cable is damaged in more detail.

Near the lever

The situation when the cable is damaged near the handle,

Do the following:

Clear access to the place where the cable is fixed to the lever. Remove the carpet, remove the dashboard cover and other elements if they are in the way. Nothing should interfere with the work.
Take the pliers and pull the center part of the cable. Clamp only the metal core, as the braid may not withstand the load.
Pull until the hood opens. Apply sufficient force to open the lock that holds the lid in the closed position.
Replace the cable fastening. Analyze the break location and try to restore the mechanism.
Install a new cable. This must be done if the available supply of cable is not enough for repairs.

Under the hood

To resolve the problem, do the following:

Find where the cable runs under the hood. To do this, look through the radiator grille and underneath, look at the car's operating instructions.
Make room. You may need to remove the fender liner to gain access. It is best if there is a hole, jack or overpass, the presence of which is mandatory when repairing a foreign car. In domestic cars, the easiest way to get to the cable is from above.
Pull the cable with pliers. As in the case discussed above, pull on the central core, not the braid. Otherwise, the latter may not withstand the load.

On older VAZ models, make a loop at the end of the wire, and then pull it through the grille hole or bend the edge of the hood. In the “ten”, the lock can be opened by extending your hand through the air intake grille.

Near the castle

Another situation is when the cable breaks or falls off the fastening directly near the lock.

In such circumstances, do the following:

Gain access to the castle. Depending on the car model, it may be necessary to dismantle the engine protection (relevant for the VAZ-2115), complete or partial removal of the engine protection, radiator grille and bumper. The decision must be made taking into account the design features of the car.
Prepare your instrument. Use a long-blade screwdriver, wire, or other available tool.
Press the latch with a screwdriver. Use enough force to open the lock.

For some models, the last steps may differ:

For Volkswagen Passat. Use a metal loop. First remove the emblem by unscrewing it clockwise and then removing the plug. Next, open the lock using a hinge and a mirror.
For Ford Mondeo / Focus 2. Remove the lock cylinder. To do this, drill holes in the plastic plug hidden behind the badge.
For Ford Focus 3. Remove the radiator protection, find the cable and pull it to the left side of the headlight or reach the lever and push.
For Zhiguli, Slavuta, ZAZ Tavria, Hyundai Solaris. Lift the hood and place a wooden block under it, wrapped in a soft cloth to prevent scratches, or an air cushion from under the tonometer. This distance is enough to place a metal rod with a loop in the hole. In this way it is possible to gain access to the latch in the central part.

How to open the hood of a Volkswagen Passat B6.

If the lock is frozen

Do the following:

Find a second person to apply pressure on the hood in the locking area.
Get into the cabin and pull the lever that is connected to the cable.
Have an assistant press the hood in the area indicated in the first step.

If there is no result, warm up the lock. To do this, you can drive the car into a warm room for 30-40 minutes, warm up the engine, use a hairdryer or warm water.

In the latter case, act quickly, because in severe frost, warm water will quickly turn into ice.

Another option is to use alcohol or a special defrosting agent if you have access to the lock mechanics.

Causes of cable drive failure

A cable break can be due to various reasons, from simple chafing to too much tension. This happens much less often with stranded metal ones, but the manufacturer does not always install exactly these. Therefore, keep in mind that if the drive breaks, it will have to be replaced, and it is best to use a multi-core one - it is much stronger and more flexible.

Often the driver himself is to blame for the break when he sharply pulls the lever. It is at this moment that the cable can break away from it. Also, the lock itself and the cable require regular maintenance and lubrication, and if this is not done, it can rust and jam - the driver will have to repeatedly pull the lever, which will lead to a break.

The lock can freeze in the cold, and the cable can become very tense - this can also lead to the same result.

Dead battery

The problem is typical for electromechanical type locks that require on-board voltage.

There are two ways available here:

Use the spare cable installed when installing the lock.
Power the device from an additional power source.

But, for example, on a Ford Mondeo 4 you can use a wire with a thickness of at least 5 mm, bent in the form of a poker, as shown below.

If you choose the first option, do the following:

Decide on the location of the cable. Its placement is individual for different car models.
Pull it to open the hood.

When using a backup power source (second option):

Find an additional 12 V source, for example, another battery from a car, a battery from a motorcycle or a household tool.
Connect the “negative” output of the source to the “minus” of the car, and connect the “plus” to the corresponding network contact (prepared in advance, read on).
Make sure there is a click and the lock opens.

The second method, with an additional power supply, can be implemented in one of the following ways (the following are unrelated methods):

Place a special connector into the cabin (through the dashboard) to supply backup voltage to the on-board network. When the battery is discharged, connect wires from an external power source to the convectors and open the hood.
Connect the “minus” from the backup battery to ground (for example, a door hinge), and feed the “positive” wire to the safety block using a metal pin or awl, thereby powering the vehicle’s on-board network.
Connect a remote battery or jump starter to the cigarette lighter. If power is not supplied to this element when the ignition is off, turn the key to the ACC position to supply voltage.
Apply power through the turn signal or lighting elements. This option is suitable for a situation where you cannot get inside the car due to problems with the alarm or the inability to open the doors with the key. After submitting the “plus” and “minus”, all that remains is to open the hood. Connection diagram “+” to “+”, “-” to “-”.

If the lock is jammed

A common situation is when the locking mechanism is jammed and changing the position of the lever does not produce results.

Do the following:

Park the car on a level surface and apply the handbrake. It is best to work near the house or in the garage.
Find the hood release handle in the cabin. As a rule, it is located to the left of the driver, below or under the glove compartment.
Pull the lever. If the hood does not open, knock on it with your other hand by reaching through the door or asking an assistant. Proceed carefully to avoid deformation of the hood.
Get a helper. Have someone pull the lever while you lift the hood up. If the problem is a dirty or jammed lock, this method can resolve the problem.
Inspect the locking hook for damage. Use lubricant to treat mechanism elements. The use of silicone adhesive is not recommended due to the risk of contamination of the oxygen sensor.

The hood lock is broken

A common problem for foreign cars and to troubleshoot the problem follow the instructions:

Take an electrode or thin wire. Make a hook at the end and insert it through the radiator grille.
Use a flashlight to quickly find where the rod is slipping.
Tear off the hinge where it attaches to the lock. To do this, tear it out of the metal “whiskers”.
Insert a long object between the antennae. Alternatively, you can use a screwdriver.
Carefully rotate the device against the clock hand.
Push the lid up and open it.

Use a screwdriver

In order to open the hood locking mechanism, you can use a long screwdriver. It is pushed through the radiator grille, then moves the lock mechanism and - voila! The problem is that you will probably not be able to perform the sacrament the first or even the second time. Therefore, practice at your leisure - who knows, maybe one day this skill will be very useful to you? In some cases, you can remove the radiator grille, if this is possible without consequences for it and the front of the car. For example, on Volvo cars of previous generations, a simple maneuver is performed in one or two steps, which is sometimes taken advantage of by thieves.

Read also: Stronger or flame arrester, which is better?

Useful tips

When following the instructions above, keep the following tips in mind:

If the damage cannot be repaired immediately, tie the cable into a knot near the latch before closing the hood.
In the event of an accident, the latch may become dislodged, causing it to malfunction. In this case, manual configuration may be required.
On some older car models, the hinges are mounted at the front, so the hood locks itself when opened.
In many cars, the hood cannot stay open on its own. To do this, use the support rod provided by the manufacturer.

conclusions

The design of VAZ cars has some outdated elements that have not been used on modern car models for a long time. These include the hood release cable. If it breaks, its cover will jam and the car owner will have to open the engine compartment. This procedure is relatively simple and can be done independently, although you will have to spend quite a lot of time. In order to prevent such an unpleasant situation from occurring, it is necessary to modernly replace the cable, and also try not to apply significant physical effort to it.

Features of opening the hood on different brands of cars

When looking for a way to open the hood from the outside, it is important to take into account the make of the car and its features.

Depending on the type of car, there are individual solutions that allow you to quickly deal with the problem.

Below we will look at the nuances for some cars, design features and secrets shared by the owners.

Lada Kalina

In a situation where the cable is damaged, or you cannot get into the car, you can open the hood of the Lada Kalina as follows:

Find a small wire or electrode 2-2.5 20-30 cm long.
Fold the edge into a loop.
Insert the wire into the upper section of the grille to the right of the VAZ badge by 15-20 cm. The task is to pull the spring on the lock.
Feel for the lock with your hook and pull the wire/electrode to the right until it clicks.

After opening, you can inspect the lock - align it, repair the spring, lubricate it, or do other restoration work.

Priora

If the battery on a Priora is dead, the locks do not open, including those in the hood.

To open the engine compartment cover, do the following:

Look into the hole in the radiator grille.
In the distance near the radiator, find the cable that goes to the lock.
Take a long screwdriver and slide it under the cable.
Press the screwdriver down on the cable until it clicks.

If everything is done correctly, the hood should open.

VAZ 2109, 2110

In the case of VAZ cars, opening the hood from the outside occurs as follows:

Insert the brush into the air intake.
Locate the section of cable that goes to the hood latch latch.
Pull it towards you with pliers.

An alternative is to use wire twisted into a loop at the end. With its help, try to catch the cable by carefully bending the corner of the hood.

VAZ 2114, 2115

In cars 2213, 2114 and 2115, to open the hood from the outside, do the following, which will have to be done from below the car:

Unscrew the front bolts that hold the motor guard in place and lower them down. Here you will need a key to “17”.
Unscrew the five “8” bolts holding the small guards and move them to the side. This is necessary to make the gap wide enough to fit your hand through.
Slide the brush between the radiator and the engine into the area where the hood lever is located.
Move the handle to the left to open the engine compartment cover.

Ford Focus 3

In the case of the Ford Focus 3, opening the hood in the standard way is as follows:

Find the special handle near your left leg.
Pull it until a dry click appears.
Place your hand under the slightly open hood near the right headlight and locate the lever.
Pull it towards you and open the lid.
Place the holder to secure the hood.

But there are emergency situations that cause difficulties.

Battery is discharged

If the battery is low and the hood lock is blocked, do the following:

Prepare two meters of wire, a flashlight, a skewer, polystyrene foam and a charged battery.
Lift the hood, place foam under it and pull the “plus” closer to the edge.
Use the hook of the skewer to reach the terminal and tighten it.
Connect the first contact of a two-meter wire to the “plus”, and the second to the wheel rim.
Unlock the car with the key fob.

The cable came off

If you suspect a slipped cable, do the following:

Find the wire and make a hook on its edge.
Near the left headlight, insert the product into the engine compartment slot and hook it to the cable.
Pull it to the mounting location.
Push the cable through the latch to open the hood.