Need ideas, hood latch cable problem, Oh dopey me!

Oh dopey me, I had to do some work under the dash yesterday, pulled the panel with the hood latch, and somehow the end of the release cable at the latch popped out, so now my hood won't open.
I did fix my original problem however!
Watched a few videos, don't want to drill a hole in the latch assy. Some others while a bit vague, gave me ideas.
Anyone know a method of popping the latch that doesn't involve a torch, drill or explosives, although #3 is attractive, something easier.
You all some really smart folks, watctcha got for ideas?

 

Maybe try from underneath the truck with a battery tie down rod or jhook And a mirror

 

Take the skid plate off and look at it from the bottom. If you can get these 3 bolts off you are good. The whole latch will come off. you can get the top two from the front grill.




I had this happen once and took it to a auto body shop and those guys got it open and fixed in minutes. I did the latch removal on a Camry before.

 

This is the first thought thought I had, using some 3/32 welding rod, snaking in from the right side of latch... good thought , thanks.

I watched this video, this is the drilling option I will save for last, but, I can always use the TIG rod from
blackdemon_tt's idea to seal the resulting 1/2" hole. Then paint, & install!on!

This is my first option, will try the bottom bolt first, there's no rust, so as long as I can reach it and give it a turn, good to go!

Anybody else got a thought, these are three good ones, I bet there's more, tomorrow I will start with jerryallday 's idea!

Thanks all!!

 

Are you sure the cable is loose at the latch? Today, when I tried to open the hood all I had was movement of the latch release handle in the cab. After doing some research I invited the guys over for "Beer Thirty". With one of the guys holding the release lever at full release I thumped the center of the hood above the latch area. After several attempts the latch finally released and I could open the hood. A good liberal spray of PR Blaster the latch was free and operation as normal. My mistake was using WD-40 as a latch lube which is not a good lube. It might free everything up for a while. Then everything is dries out and you no longer have a good metal to metal lube surface. If the cable end is out of the hood latch then that is a whole new bag of worms. Good luck on getting the hood open. This was just my hood opening adventure.

 

Any updates ?

 

Not yet, could not get to it today, however Tomorrow am it gets tackled!
It's gonna be a 101' hottie come 1p or so, got to work early and quick!!

There will be an update!

 

There have been a couple of times since I first got my truck that the release cable seems to have stuck open (with the handle up). I lubricated the latch and cable, and have not had any problem since. But I've always had this nagging fear that one day it will fail, Perhaps I'll go ahead and change it...just in case.

$32 Dorman 912-088 Hood Release Cable Compatible with Select Toyota Models

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00GHT9ABS?_encoding=UTF8&Make=Toyota%7C76&Model=Tundra%7C1033&Year=2004%7C2004&ie=UTF8&vehicleId=6&vehicleType=automotive

 

Yesterday I had a buddy come over for a little assistance with my hood will not open problem. He pulled on the hood release handle and kept tension on the handle. I used the palm of my hand and thumped on the hood several times in the area above the latch. After a few time of thumping on the hood the hood latch released and the hood opened to the safety catch. Then it was time to celebrate with a beer for everyone. Then, with the hood raised I sprayed the latch mechanism with a good dose of molybdenum based penetrate. I had been using WD-40 as a latch lube and all it did was let everything dry out a seize. WD-40 and a lighter are good for torching flying insects. The safety was bound up to the point it would not return to the latched position. After a good spray of moly and working the latch it freed up and works as it was designed to work. Hopefully, this plan of attack, the easy one, will solve your problem and allow you to tackle other adventures you had planned for the day. If it doesn't you will have to try any of the other remedies that have been posted. Someone posted that they had added a release cable using a couple of guides and pulleys that allows the free end of the cable hang down on the left side of the truck near the suspension. Then, if the problem rears its ugly head again all you have to do is pull on the standby release cable. I am going to have to check this idea out and see what I can come up with. Hopefully I will get around to it before the hood hangs up again.

 

OK guys, it's open! YAAAY!!
The first attempt, I tries the TIG 3/32 rod, nogo, how ever, I may drill the perfect hole in the right spot, so next time.....
Second try, removing the bolts, there were little plates over the bolt heads, they saw me coming.... DAMN!

Then, since Toyota is about 5 minutes from my home, I stopped by, they actually had two of the techs come over, we looked at it, they gave me the ideas you all have suggested, nice to know there a number of us thinking! No charge, good lucks, thanks, went home!
Third try, the drill bit... this actually took about a minute to do surgery, grabbed a pick, 10 sec later POP!


Here you can see the 10 mm bolt head covers, and "The HOLE" ...to be TIG'd closed at a later time!
To top it off, it was a new release cable, however, amazingly it was routed wrong, which caused the problem, and the way it was routed with bare cable wrapped over a brace, it would have self destructed after X number of pulls!
Glad I nipped that in the bud!

So to all of you who responded, If I could do this in person I would love to,


I'm raising my glass to you all, wish you could join in!!

THANK YOU!
-30-

 

Instead of having the hole welded shut why not clean up the hole and locate a snap-in metal cap. If you want a little more holding possibility use a little silicone sealer on the cap. Then, if this ever happens again you only need a pick to remove the cap. A liberal spray of a molybdenum based penetrate/lubricant on the latch every oil change should solve the problem and help keep the latch functioning nearly as good as new. That is unless you live where there is an issue with salt and rust.

 

This is actually a great idea..... I was considering drilling a 1/8" hole so a 3/32'" TIG rod can slide in and be inline with the latch to push it the 1/4" it needs to open.
But a 1/2" hole plug like this

I avoid dragging the TIG out, is quickly removable, I just have to paint it black, great song BTW.

Good idea, drinks to you also!!

 

Now that I am able to open my hood I am going to drill a 1/2" hole for a plug. Don't want to have to try and drill it with the hood closed. While lubing all the hood latch mechanism I noticed that the safety clip on the upper end of the safety latch rod was not snapped in the closed position. When the rod decided to come loose that would have created another problem. So, I have new safety clips on order.

 

If that's what I think it is, it's a push penny. It's for a 1/2" hole, but it's actually a 7/8s hole. Electrician measurements are weird.

 

Those hole plugs come in just about any size hole you need to fill.

 

Back from the dead...
Looks like we are now in need of a new mechanism and thanks to the good ol' search function we were able to get the hood opened and service a kaput battery. Latch is looking quite ugly.