My hood will not open, please help

[whiteI30]

1998 Infiniti I30. The lever that you pull inside the cabin to pop the hood is not doing anything. I can pull it back a couple of inches but it is not releasing the hood. I kept on going back and forth between that lever, and the one behind the grill to pop the hood, but it would not release. I really need to pop the hood so I can change the dead battery. I remember this has happened in the past, but after pulling the lever a few times and going to the front of the car and messing with that lever, it would eventually open. Any advice is appreciated. Thank you.

[maxhopper]

First thing I would do is beat on the front of the hood a couple times to see if it springs up. If that doesn't work, try having a friend lift up on the hood while you're pulling the release. If that still doesn't work, I would imagine that the cabel has broke, or become disconnected from the release.

[whiteI30]

Thank you. If the cable has become disconnected, what can I do to open the hood?

[danielekfuj]

^^ I would do what he says. On our hyundai it feels like barely any resistance on the lever under the dash, and you have to pull up sharply on the hood for the first latch to release. If you still can't get it open, there are other methods...

[whiteI30]

Okay thanks, I'll give it a shot tommorrow I'll let you guys know happens.

[MinisterofDOOM]

If the cable's disconnected you'll have to reach in and pop the latch by hand.I'm not intimately familiar with the 4th gen underhood like I am 3rd and 6th gens, but I imagine the easiest route would be to come up from below, between the bumper/grille and the radiator with a pair of pliers.

[NutriaforBreakfast]

I found some schematics. Try this.

http://www.nicoclub.com/fsm/i30/1998_I30

Go to bt section

Try pages 6-7

or http://www.nicoclub.com/fsm/i30 might work as i ama struggling techi

[whiteI30]

Well I tried to open it up again today with no luck, I pulled up and down on the hood, pounded on it, nothing worked. I didn't have someone else with me to pull up on the hood while I pull the lever inside the cabin though. I checked those links and it says 404 Not Found. I can stick a srewdriver through the grill and move the hood latch, but it doesn't release it. If I come up from underneath I'm looking for the cable to grab onto with pliers right? And just pull the cable ?

[whiteI30]

Oh, but if the cable is broke at the latch then pulling on it won't do anything. hmmm.

[NutriaforBreakfast]

http://www.nicoclub.com/FSM/maxima/1995/st.pdf

Try this and work your way back to your car

[whiteI30]

thanks, I was able to find a very small picture of the hood lock mechanism, but it is not clear at all. I need to shovel some snow and ice thats on the ground in front of my car so I can lay on my back and reach up in there, this is such a PITA!

[NutriaforBreakfast]

Did you try to increase the focus to 125%

I notice i have to do that with the pictures

[Sentientbydesign]

I had this problem when the little rubber hood bumpers wore out.

Because they didn't push up on the hood, it wouldn't pop. Especially on an incline.

Does the release give you any resistance when you pull? That would be a good indicator if it's the cable or something else.

[whiteI30]

The release is giving me good resistence when I pull, but not as much as I think it should. I can reach through the opening in the bumper and reach upwards but I can't seem to grab onto anything. the cable is inside that hard rubber line, so pulling on that doesn't do anything. I need a way to open this hood lock mechanism with the hood closed which is proving to be extremely difficult. And there really is no clear path for me to reach up in there. Does anyone have any other suggestions I can try? Maybe the moderators can move this to the Infinite Online Mechanic forum? Please any suggestion would be appreciated, I really don't feel like paying for a tow to some place that may screw me. If you were a mechanic and a car was brought to you in this condition, what would you do?

[NutriaforBreakfast]

Call the Infiniti dealer and create urgency (tell them youron the highway and need to tell the tow truck what to do) ora giant Nutria is attaching.....

[whiteI30]

I wasn't sure what a nutria is so I looked it up. A large semi-aquatic rodent, pretty gross. I think I may have to call for a tow, actually insurance will cover it, but then I need a place to repair it, or adjust it. If anyone has any other suggestions please chime in.

[whiteI30]

I got the hood open!!!! I finally had someone over at my house, Just like maxhopper97 suggested I pulled up on the hood , they pulled the lever and bingo bango it popped. Thank God, and now I'm going to have a celebration party!

[NutriaforBreakfast]

Dont spend you money on beer for the party before replacingthe battery

[Sentientbydesign]

Check the two rubber bumpers that hold up the hood.

If they are worn, broken or too low, fix or replace them.

The dealer should have the pair for under $10. After they are replaced or repaired, they will put pressure on the hood to push it up when the release is pulled.

[whiteI30]

thanks for the heads up, I'll check em out.