@acg still not open , I have something in the garage that should work, but I did not think of it until I was driving to work to today.

 

I really wish I could remember what I used. I want to say I used a cats paw (nail remover pry bar type thing). Normal pry bar is too wide but the nail remover one should be just right.

 

@whowa004 it is a "project" now. I have a "T" handled socket bar with a sliding end, that I can attach an ext and socket to to form an L that should let me bump catch. That should open the hood and then I am good. I have a short cat's paw that might work too.

 

Success ! Full write up with pictures coming as it will save some other guy a couple of hours. But in short:

Wire coat hanger
Cordless drill or drill
Long extension
11/16 or so wood bit - the bladed kind

The short process is :

• Fish the cable and cut
• Drill 2 holes in the plastic protector with the wood bit at the right rear of the protector
• Pull the cable through - it is a bitch but the coat hanger with a hook helps a lot
• With vice grips pull the cable, it should separate from the holder or stretch out - mine separated
• Make a tight loop in the end of the coat hanger wire
• Slide it in a and pull back - you will need to make a few bends to catch the hook but you will it took me 3 tries

Grill is intact and fine.

 

Pretty sure with the plastic cover removed (drill out rivets) and left off you could pop it easily with a screwdriver from the front. As a bike enthusiast I plan to add a extra cable using brake or derailleur cable/housing and fish it to a discreet location for emergency use. With the plastic cover off and mechanism removed you can also lubricate the cable by pointing it skyward and letting silicone capillary into the housing.

 

@dswilly the cable does a 180 and is behind the latch, but yes with the cover off it is easy to hook. @Externet did a write up on a backup system that is very good.

 

The basic problem when you break a cable at the latch is twofold :

1. The plastic security cover which prevents easy access
2. The release latch is in the rear (radiator side)

There are lots of possible ways to pop the latch but they are large frustrating and difficult due to the two things above. My final solution took 30 minutes including removing the latch.

Step 1 reach through the grill and grab the cable, with a pair of long needle nose pliers. Turn the pliers to create a 360 degree loop in the cable, if you are lucky the hood will pop.
Step 2 pull the cable to where you can cut it using a pair of wire cutters it will take a couple of cuts
Step 3 you need the 3 items shown below:

1. Coat hanger
2. Drill bit extension
3. Drill bit 11/16th is what I used

Step 4 use the drill bit to drill 2 holes in the plastic cover side by side - right side of the cover (picture forth coming)


Step 5 use a hook in the coat a hanger to grab the wire and pull it out of the housing - pull it all the way out until you get the cut end



Step 6 try to pull rest of the wire out of the latch mechanism

More to come

 

Glad you're in Richard, but l notice nothing about a beer break during procedure.

 

this is one of those jobs gotta have a beer before you begin lol

 

@whowa004 @The Deputy it was one of those jobs were alcohol is celebratory, had a small glass of brandy after. Got to get all back together this weekend, grill off of course to get the latch set and a temp release in place. Of course heavy rain is forecast