How to open the hood from the outside if the cable is broken, the lock is broken or frozen

Situations when a car owner tries to open the hood from the passenger compartment, but fails to do so in the prescribed manner, happen often.

There are many ways to solve the problem, but which one to use depends on the brand of car and the reasons that led to this problem.

Below we present ways to open the hood from the outside and highlight the features for different brands / models of cars, and also dwell in more detail on the models: Lada Kalina, Priora, VAZ 2109, 2110, 2114, 2115, Ford Focus 3, Hyundai Solaris, Chevrolet Cruze, Kio Rio 2 , Kia Cerato.

Reasons why the hood does not open and how to eliminate them

The experience of car owners allows us to identify the main reasons that lead to difficulties when opening the hood in the normal way.

Let's highlight the main ones.

Stretching of the cable during operation and its inability to tighten the latch.

The problem can be easily recognized by weak lever resistance. To open, remove the adjusting handle and casing, and then pull the cable itself. To eliminate the problem, adjust the length of the cable.

Low battery and no power to the opening device.

Relevant for cars where the hood is opened using an electromechanical lock.

To solve the problem, use a spare cable or an additional battery.

The solution is to charge the battery to the desired level, but first you will need to get there.

Wear of lock latches due to poor lubrication.

To open the hood, press it where it locks and at the same time press the lever. After this, clean and lubricate the system elements. You will need the help of an assistant.

A broken or slipped cable that does not pull the latch.

Correct the problem by searching for a break, tightening the remaining part, or gaining access to the latch. In the future, immediately replace the cable.

Mechanical fault of the lock.

If the mechanism does not open in cold weather, try to get to the lock using a loop made of wire, remove the radiator grille, headlight and fender liner. After successful opening, repair the lock.

You may have to crawl under the car (depending on the vehicle model).

Freezing of lock elements.

Heat the locking mechanism, and to do this, warm up the car as a whole or locally, warm up the engine.

Press the hood in the area where it is secured to break up the ice crust. Once you have managed to open the hood from the outside, clean and lubricate the system components.

Above are the main reasons why the hood does not open and ways to solve the problem.

The main thing at this stage is to correctly diagnose the malfunction based on the existing symptoms.

Causes of cable drive failure

The main reason for unexpected breakage of a cable drive is natural wear and tear. Over time, the cable stretches, frays and breaks. This happens more often on cars with history. The rupture location is usually near the handle in the passenger compartment.

The second reason is inadequate maintenance. Such an inconspicuous element as the hood lock also needs care, like any component of the car. It needs to be lubricated periodically. This procedure is especially relevant in winter: a drop in temperature leads to freezing of the lock parts.

It is an ungreased lock that jams most often. A sharp opening with force applied by the driver leads to a break in the cable from the lock or lever. Due to the lack of lubrication, the bends under the hood are chafed and torn.

How to open the hood if the cable is broken

A broken cable can be easily recognized by the loose movement of the lever to open the hood.

If there is a break near the handle, it is enough to replace it and then tighten it using pliers.

If the cable near the lock is damaged, you will have to look for exits to the latch and bend it.
If the break occurs under the hood, as an option, you can crawl up from the bottom and pull the cable with pliers.

Let's look at the situation with different places where the cable is damaged in more detail.

Near the lever

The situation when the cable is damaged near the handle,

Do the following:

Clear access to the place where the cable is fixed to the lever. Remove the carpet, remove the dashboard cover and other elements if they are in the way. Nothing should interfere with the work.
Take the pliers and pull the center part of the cable. Clamp only the metal core, as the braid may not withstand the load.
Pull until the hood opens. Apply sufficient force to open the lock that holds the lid in the closed position.
Replace the cable fastening. Analyze the break location and try to restore the mechanism.
Install a new cable. This must be done if the available supply of cable is not enough for repairs.

Under the hood

To resolve the problem, do the following:

Find where the cable runs under the hood. To do this, look through the radiator grille and underneath, look at the car's operating instructions.
Make room. You may need to remove the fender liner to gain access. It is best if there is a hole, jack or overpass, the presence of which is mandatory when repairing a foreign car. In domestic cars, the easiest way to get to the cable is from above.
Pull the cable with pliers. As in the case discussed above, pull on the central core, not the braid. Otherwise, the latter may not withstand the load.

On older VAZ models, make a loop at the end of the wire, and then pull it through the grille hole or bend the edge of the hood. In the “ten”, the lock can be opened by extending your hand through the air intake grille.

Near the castle

Another situation is when the cable breaks or falls off the fastening directly near the lock.

In such circumstances, do the following:

Gain access to the castle. Depending on the car model, it may be necessary to dismantle the engine protection (relevant for the VAZ-2115), complete or partial removal of the engine protection, radiator grille and bumper. The decision must be made taking into account the design features of the car.
Prepare your instrument. Use a long-blade screwdriver, wire, or other available tool.
Press the latch with a screwdriver. Use enough force to open the lock.

For some models, the last steps may differ:

For Volkswagen Passat. Use a metal loop. First remove the emblem by unscrewing it clockwise and then removing the plug. Next, open the lock using a hinge and a mirror.
For Ford Mondeo / Focus 2. Remove the lock cylinder. To do this, drill holes in the plastic plug hidden behind the badge.
For Ford Focus 3. Remove the radiator protection, find the cable and pull it to the left side of the headlight or reach the lever and push.
For Zhiguli, Slavuta, ZAZ Tavria, Hyundai Solaris. Lift the hood and place a wooden block under it, wrapped in a soft cloth to prevent scratches, or an air cushion from under the tonometer. This distance is enough to place a metal rod with a loop in the hole. In this way it is possible to gain access to the latch in the central part.

How to open the hood of a Volkswagen Passat B6.

How to extend the life of a cable drive

To prevent trouble with a broken cable from happening at the wrong time, you should take care of its serviceability in advance. To do this, during vehicle maintenance, pay attention to the condition of the drive mechanism as a whole. If the rod is very stretched, replace it. By following simple rules it is easy to extend the life of the hood opening drive.

When installing a new cable, be sure to lubricate its outputs with lithol or machine oil. Also treat the inner surface of the cover.
To replace, choose a multi-core cable. Its advantage is strength, flexibility, and slow wear.
When laying a new cable, try to make fewer sharp bends. It's better to take the cable a little longer.
Avoid sudden movements on the lever.
Periodically pour lubricating oil into the installed cable, for example, using a syringe.
When a breakdown occurs and there is no way to fix it instantly, tie the cable into a knot around the latch.
Before starting the journey, you need to check how tightly the hood is closed. Unintentional opening of the luggage compartment lid while driving can provoke an emergency situation.
You cannot use simple wire or rope instead of a special cable.

According to statistics, the service of opening the hood is one of the most popular in car service centers. Especially in winter. A conscientious car owner who carefully monitors the condition of all car parts will avoid a trip to the service station for this reason.

If the lock is frozen

Do the following:

Find a second person to apply pressure on the hood in the locking area.
Get into the cabin and pull the lever that is connected to the cable.
Have an assistant press the hood in the area indicated in the first step.

If there is no result, warm up the lock. To do this, you can drive the car into a warm room for 30-40 minutes, warm up the engine, use a hairdryer or warm water.

In the latter case, act quickly, because in severe frost, warm water will quickly turn into ice.

Another option is to use alcohol or a special defrosting agent if you have access to the lock mechanics.

Determining the location of the break

Before you start restoring the cable drive, you need to determine the location of the break. To do this, you need to carefully examine the place where the rod is attached to the lever in the cabin. Perhaps the cable broke right there or the fastening itself broke. If a problem could not be detected on the interior side, then the break occurred in the area of the hood lock. There are three options for breaking the cable:

near the castle;
in the middle;
near the start button or opening lever.

Important: the location of the cable device differs for different car models. Before starting repairs, you should familiarize yourself with the hood lock drive diagram.

It is easy to understand that the reason for the hood jamming is a broken cable: a characteristic sound will be heard when you press the lever.

Dead battery

The problem is typical for electromechanical type locks that require on-board voltage.

There are two ways available here:

Use the spare cable installed when installing the lock.
Power the device from an additional power source.

But, for example, on a Ford Mondeo 4 you can use a wire with a thickness of at least 5 mm, bent in the form of a poker, as shown below.

If you choose the first option, do the following:

Decide on the location of the cable. Its placement is individual for different car models.
Pull it to open the hood.

When using a backup power source (second option):

Find an additional 12 V source, for example, another battery from a car, a battery from a motorcycle or a household tool.
Connect the “negative” output of the source to the “minus” of the car, and connect the “plus” to the corresponding network contact (prepared in advance, read on).
Make sure there is a click and the lock opens.

The second method, with an additional power supply, can be implemented in one of the following ways (the following are unrelated methods):

Place a special connector into the cabin (through the dashboard) to supply backup voltage to the on-board network. When the battery is discharged, connect wires from an external power source to the convectors and open the hood.
Connect the “minus” from the backup battery to ground (for example, a door hinge), and feed the “positive” wire to the safety block using a metal pin or awl, thereby powering the vehicle’s on-board network.
Connect a remote battery or jump starter to the cigarette lighter. If power is not supplied to this element when the ignition is off, turn the key to the ACC position to supply voltage.
Apply power through the turn signal or lighting elements. This option is suitable for a situation where you cannot get inside the car due to problems with the alarm or the inability to open the doors with the key. After submitting the “plus” and “minus”, all that remains is to open the hood. Connection diagram “+” to “+”, “-” to “-”.

Replacing headlights 2007-2014 Skoda Fabia

The video above shows how to replace a headlight in a Skoda Fabia 2010. Headlights dim by 20% over time and burn out over time, so it is recommended to replace headlights in pairs. Replacing both bulbs at the same time on the Fabia will allow both bulbs to have the same intensity and prevent the new bulb from appearing brighter than the bulb on the opposite side. In some Skodas, the high beam is the same as the headlights, and the high beam may work, but the headlight burns out, even if it is the same bulb (and vice versa). Some Skodas have high intensity discharge headlights, sometimes called xenon headlights. Very high voltage passes through these bulbs even when the battery is disconnected. If your Fabia has this type of lamp, we do not recommend that you attempt to change it yourself.

When replacing a headlight on a Fabia, it is important not to touch the glass part of the lamp with your fingers because the oil from your fingertips will cause that part of the lamp to overheat, which will significantly reduce the life of the lamp bulb.

If the lock is jammed

A common situation is when the locking mechanism is jammed and changing the position of the lever does not produce results.

Do the following:

Park the car on a level surface and apply the handbrake. It is best to work near the house or in the garage.
Find the hood release handle in the cabin. As a rule, it is located to the left of the driver, below or under the glove compartment.
Pull the lever. If the hood does not open, knock on it with your other hand by reaching through the door or asking an assistant. Proceed carefully to avoid deformation of the hood.
Get a helper. Have someone pull the lever while you lift the hood up. If the problem is a dirty or jammed lock, this method can resolve the problem.
Inspect the locking hook for damage. Use lubricant to treat mechanism elements. The use of silicone adhesive is not recommended due to the risk of contamination of the oxygen sensor.

conclusions

The design of VAZ cars has some outdated elements that have not been used on modern car models for a long time. These include the hood release cable. If it breaks, its cover will jam and the car owner will have to open the engine compartment. This procedure is relatively simple and can be done independently, although you will have to spend quite a lot of time. In order to prevent such an unpleasant situation from occurring, it is necessary to modernly replace the cable, and also try not to apply significant physical effort to it.

Sometimes you really need to get into the engine compartment, but the car resists - the battery is discharged and does not allow you to open the hood lock, or the cable is broken. But there are ways.

Most often, the problem arises in full force when the battery dies in winter frosts - the car is de-energized and it is impossible to get into the cabin. Some break windows, although there are much more graceful, but also labor-intensive scenarios - you just need to get under the hood.

The hood lock is broken

A common problem for foreign cars and to troubleshoot the problem follow the instructions:

Take an electrode or thin wire. Make a hook at the end and insert it through the radiator grille.
Use a flashlight to quickly find where the rod is slipping.
Tear off the hinge where it attaches to the lock. To do this, tear it out of the metal “whiskers”.
Insert a long object between the antennae. Alternatively, you can use a screwdriver.
Carefully rotate the device against the clock hand.
Push the lid up and open it.

Use a screwdriver

In order to open the hood locking mechanism, you can use a long screwdriver. It is pushed through the radiator grille, then moves the lock mechanism and - voila! The problem is that you will probably not be able to perform the sacrament the first or even the second time. Therefore, practice at your leisure - who knows, maybe one day this skill will be very useful to you? In some cases, you can remove the radiator grille, if this is possible without consequences for it and the front of the car. For example, on Volvo cars of previous generations, a simple maneuver is performed in one or two steps, which is sometimes taken advantage of by thieves.

Useful tips

When following the instructions above, keep the following tips in mind:

If the damage cannot be repaired immediately, tie the cable into a knot near the latch before closing the hood.
In the event of an accident, the latch may become dislodged, causing it to malfunction. In this case, manual configuration may be required.
On some older car models, the hinges are mounted at the front, so the hood locks itself when opened.
In many cars, the hood cannot stay open on its own. To do this, use the support rod provided by the manufacturer.

DRL Replacement 2007-2014 Skoda Fabia

Daytime running lights, sometimes called DRL or DTR, are lights that turn on automatically when your 2010 Skoda Fabia is in motion. Because the daytime running lights come on every time you drive your Fabia, they often burn out first. The video above shows how to replace the daytime running lights on a 2010 Fabia. These bulbs will dim over 20% over time, so we recommend replacing both bulbs on your Fabia at the same time, even if only one bulb is burned out - This will allow both DRL bulbs to have the same intensity and prevent the old DRLs from appearing brighter than the new one.

When replacing the daytime running lights on a Fabia, it is important not to touch the glass part of the bulb with your fingers, as oil from your fingertips will cause that part of the bulb to overheat, which will significantly reduce the life of the incandescent bulb. Some studies show that driving with headlights on can reduce the number of accidents by 18-34%, driving with DRLs or headlights during the day can reduce the likelihood of an accident.

Sources

https://AutoTopik.ru/sovet/kak-otkryt-kapot-snaruzhi.html
https://www.lockservice.pro/otkryt-shkodu-fabiya-bez-klyucha
https://tonirui.ru/raznoe/shkoda-fabiya-kak-otkryt-kapot-snaruzhi.html

Features of opening the hood on different brands of cars

When looking for a way to open the hood from the outside, it is important to take into account the make of the car and its features.

Depending on the type of car, there are individual solutions that allow you to quickly deal with the problem.

Below we will look at the nuances for some cars, design features and secrets shared by the owners.

Lada Kalina

In a situation where the cable is damaged, or you cannot get into the car, you can open the hood of the Lada Kalina as follows:

Find a small wire or electrode 2-2.5 20-30 cm long.
Fold the edge into a loop.
Insert the wire into the upper section of the grille to the right of the VAZ badge by 15-20 cm. The task is to pull the spring on the lock.
Feel for the lock with your hook and pull the wire/electrode to the right until it clicks.

After opening, you can inspect the lock - align it, repair the spring, lubricate it, or do other restoration work.

Priora

If the battery on a Priora is dead, the locks do not open, including those in the hood.

To open the engine compartment cover, do the following:

Look into the hole in the radiator grille.
In the distance near the radiator, find the cable that goes to the lock.
Take a long screwdriver and slide it under the cable.
Press the screwdriver down on the cable until it clicks.

If everything is done correctly, the hood should open.

VAZ 2109, 2110

In the case of VAZ cars, opening the hood from the outside occurs as follows:

Insert the brush into the air intake.
Locate the section of cable that goes to the hood latch latch.
Pull it towards you with pliers.

An alternative is to use wire twisted into a loop at the end. With its help, try to catch the cable by carefully bending the corner of the hood.

VAZ 2114, 2115

In cars 2213, 2114 and 2115, to open the hood from the outside, do the following, which will have to be done from below the car:

Unscrew the front bolts that hold the motor guard in place and lower them down. Here you will need a key to “17”.
Unscrew the five “8” bolts holding the small guards and move them to the side. This is necessary to make the gap wide enough to fit your hand through.
Slide the brush between the radiator and the engine into the area where the hood lever is located.
Move the handle to the left to open the engine compartment cover.

Ford Focus 3

In the case of the Ford Focus 3, opening the hood in the standard way is as follows:

Find the special handle near your left leg.
Pull it until a dry click appears.
Place your hand under the slightly open hood near the right headlight and locate the lever.
Pull it towards you and open the lid.
Place the holder to secure the hood.

But there are emergency situations that cause difficulties.

Battery is discharged

If the battery is low and the hood lock is blocked, do the following:

Prepare two meters of wire, a flashlight, a skewer, polystyrene foam and a charged battery.
Lift the hood, place foam under it and pull the “plus” closer to the edge.
Use the hook of the skewer to reach the terminal and tighten it.
Connect the first contact of a two-meter wire to the “plus”, and the second to the wheel rim.
Unlock the car with the key fob.

The cable came off

If you suspect a slipped cable, do the following:

Find the wire and make a hook on its edge.
Near the left headlight, insert the product into the engine compartment slot and hook it to the cable.
Pull it to the mounting location.
Push the cable through the latch to open the hood.

2007-2014 Skoda Fabia Checking interior fuses

The video above shows how to check for blown fuses in the interior fuse box of your 2010 Skoda Fabia and where the fuse panel diagram is located. If your bright map, stereo, heated seats, headlights, power windows, or other electronic components suddenly stop working, you most likely have a blown fuse. If your Fabia has electrical problems, you should always check the fuses first, as they are relatively easy to check and cheap to replace. Some Skodas have multiple internal fuse boxes, even in the boot - the video above will show you where your Fabia is. 2010 fuse box. The more electronics your Fabia has, the more fuses it has. Some components may have multiple fuses, so be sure to check all fuses associated with the component.

If you need to replace a blown fuse in your Fabia, be sure to replace it with one that has the same amperage as the blown fuse. If checking and replacing the fuse for the component in question does not help, we recommend that you seek the help of a trusted professional mechanic to determine whether the component needs replacing, a short circuit, or another problem with your Fabia.