Hood won't open. 2002 Pathy.

[Buzzman]

Well, I had to put away the Pathfinder for the past two months (in an unheated garage), and went back this weekend to get it going.
Battery was dead, so I tried to pop the hood to recharge the battery.
The hood won't open.
Pulling the release handle did nothing. No popping sound under hood....nothing.
There still seems to be spring tension on the release handle and the cable, so I don't think the cable has snapped.
I can reach through the grille and move the secondary release handle, but I have no idea how to get at the main latch.
I've searched the forum, but haven't found any solutions.
I'm open to suggestions from anyone here on how to get my hood open.
Thanks in advance.
The Buzzman.

[Hawairish]

Might need a 2nd person to pull the release handle while pushing down on the hood. Or, WD40 with the straw and try to douse the latch. Those are the only tricks I know. Good luck!

[Buzzman]

Might need a 2nd person to pull the release handle while pushing down on the hood. Or, WD40 with the straw and try to douse the latch. Those are the only tricks I know. Good luck!

I was kind of thinking I'll need a second person with me as well. It's impossible to pull and hold the release handle, and bang on the hood at the same time.
I mentioned it to my wife, and so we're going to give it a try next week when it warms up a little.
(The truck is not at home, so I have to make a planned trip to where it is parked.)
PITA.

[Hawairish]

Well, not impossible, just have to be really really creative (think Rube Goldberg, lol).

[fueler]

It's impossible to pull and hold the release handle, and bang on the hood at the same time.

It's not impossible. I manage a fleet of trucks, I do it all the time, including on my QX4. Open the drivers door all the way, and stand in the drivers door area, with your chest up against the A pillar. (Your left knee should be near the door speaker, for reference) Your right arm will go down tothe hood release latch, and your left arm will go over the drivers door hinge & above the hood. With your right hand, you will pull the latch repeatedly (clack clack clack) and with your left hand, make a fist and bang on the corner of the hood (bang bang bang) all at the same time. You don't have to reach very far on the hood, I usually go like 4" in from the rear corner of the hood. You're banging on the back of the hood, but the front will pop open. My QX4 only takes a couple of bangs. If you're smart, you will grease up the latch once it's open. If you're like me, you will just bang on the hood all the time.

An old gearhead showed me this trick many years ago and now I pass it on to you.


Another way to do it, is to pull on the release and then go for a short drive around your neighborhood. Hit a couple of driveways at an angle, or speedbumps, anything like that. The unibody frame will flex & jiggle, and hood will pop open.

[Hawairish]

Creative (particularly the 2nd option). Though honestly, I've never had the problem...because I keep it greased.

[Buzzman]

Fueler: Good to see you on here again. Thought you had disappeared for good.

Driving around is not an option, given that my battery is dead (that's why I need to get under the hood).
I can give the other method a try, but I'll probably be going back to the truck this weekend, with my wife in tow. She can pull the handle while I smash my hood.
As far as keeping it greased, the latch, along with door hinges etc., gets lubed at every oil change.
Problem now is, I don't drive it much anymore, so oil changes are few and far between.
If and when I get this thing going again, I have some work to do on it, so I'll make sure everything is greased up.
I'll keep you updated.
Thanks everyone.

[Buzzman]

Might need a 2nd person to pull the release handle while pushing down on the hood. Or, WD40 with the straw and try to douse the latch. Those are the only tricks I know. Good luck!

Well, that did the trick.
Went back to the truck yesterday, wife in tow.
She kept the hood release latch pulled, and I banged and pulled the crap out of the hood. It finally popped open. Whew.
Took the battery out and brought it home to recharge it.
All I need to do now is figure out why an almost new battery went flat in less than a month. Any ideas?

[fueler]

Fueler: Good to see you on here again. Thought you had disappeared for good.

whats up bud, got another Pathfinder, gotta post pics



as far as your battery... you got it a month ago, and it has failed during regular driving? I'd check that the terminals are clean & tight, check that it's getting 14.4v with engine running... If all is good, then take battery in for testing wherever you bought it.