Broke my good release cable

[Amc1320]

Broke off right at the handle inside this afternoon . I went to a car show and was gonna show off my engine, now I can't get to it!

Couple things, any tips on getting it open now? I assume I will have to go from underneath and try to get behind the grill?

Two, anybody got a cable?

Thanks!
Rob

[captspillane]

The cable comes in from the drivers side of the latch mechanism. It pulls horizontally from passenger side toward the driver side. The flap it pulls on sticks straight up from the bottom of the assembly. Reaching up with a long screwdriver you can feel that flap and push it over to release the hood. It's not too hard.

Once you have it open you can temporarily use a screwdriver to close the inside latch without the hood being inside the hook. The safety latch by itself will work well but the hood can fly open while you're driving, so it is a very temporary solution.

For all of mine I don't bother replacing the cable. If the cable is good I'll even disconnect it and abandon it. I run paracord, the military 550 lb test black nylon rope with strands in the center of a sheath, through the two holes. A bulky knot keeps it from going back through the holes. A tap with a hammer on the flap closes the slit to keep it from popping off the side of the hole. The rope runs straight out the square hole over to a pulley I tie across from it then down to a loop. The bitter end coming off the loop I tie to the base of the center support. The end product lets me walk right up to the front, reach underneath where a loop is sitting stationary, and then pull straight down on the loop and the hood pops. 

[Amc1320]

Thanks Capt

I was able to use a long screwdriver to get it open, pretty simple like you said. Having the SX4 all apart and ready for paint sitting in the shop for reference made it even easier!

Once opened I cut the cable under the hood, stripped it back about 6 inches and used a cable bolt thing to create a loop. The whole thing tucks nicely below the headlight where the bumper holder comes thru.

I actually works much easier and better than the cable has in a number of years, and now no one but me knows how to get in there and steal my battery. Except of course all of you, but I trust you!

I kinda like this better, Ive had to keep a pair of vise grips in the car for years since the plastic handle broke off the cable, wish I woulda done this a long time ago. I think im going to go ahead an d make the SX4 the same as its currently in vice grip mode as well

Rob

[mudkicker715]

Lube the latch. It is possible it was needed years ago. Or the cable needed lube. Generally one of those is  the hood release killer.

[Amc1320]

Yeah I keep the latch lubed, I think my cable was nasty inside. Luckily the shorter version works fine so I think the clog was further toward the cab

[vangremlin]

Could you take a picture of your design when you get a chance?  Sooner or later its going to happen to all of our Eagles and replacements are hard enough to come by as it is.  I picked up a cable off an Explorer and one off of some GM truck or Blazer that I thought might work but I've never really investigated it any further.

[carnuck]

Aftermarket PTO cable with the T handle works nice. I'd put one in but mine didn't break yet.

[Whuntmore]

I found cleaning my latch, then lubing it seemed to keep my handle from breaking.