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My girlfriends car's hood is stuck down. 1996 2 door. I pull the release handle and nothing happens. the cable's gotta be hooked up right otherwise the handle wouldn't pull itself back in. i have a few things left to try, but i'd like a few ideas before i see her again. if necessary, how do you remove the latch with the hood down if it can be done. as a side note, the car does not move. it need a transmission. that's why she wants me to get the hood up for her, so it can be replaced next week. any help is appreciated

 
Rep Power: 0

The latch is rusted shut. Same thing happened to my 6th gen, parked on a city street no less at the worst possible time (dead battery)

It's a real pain in the ***, but to get at it you need to remove the front bumper, then get up under the front with a socket wrench.

Check around for diagrams, or try to find the service manual online for images and part numbers. I think it was 4 bolts and 2 screws under the car's bumper, and one in each wheel well. Then u need to get to six or so plastic plugs still under the hood with a flat object / Flathead screwdriver. You most likely will destroy these trying to remove them with the hood closed and will need replacements.

Three bolts are holding the latch to the front, and once removed you can pull the hood right up with the latch still attached and then try to work the latch off.

Latch and 6 of those plastic plugs ran me about $35 shipped.

Good luck!

 
Rep Power: 0

I know this is about almost a year old, but would anyone happen to know if the same solution would work out for an 01 civic coupe? My hood is also stuck closed. Ive tried pulling at the cable from behind the fender and I can hear it being pulled all the way to the hood, but the hood isn't popping up at all so I'm guessing the latch is broken