Have you ever forgotten your car key inside the car before? Were you about to head out to a meeting and you noticed your car battery was dead? This could be frustrating, unnerving, and troubling.
In worst cases, your car hood could get stuck in the process of trying to fix the problem.
However, when you finally open the hood from outside; do well to find a solution to the root cause of the problem.
It could be fixing a new battery or keeping one spare. In this article, we’ll discuss the best practices on how to open a car hood from outside.
What is the Hood of the Car?
A car hood also referred to as a bonnet in some other countries is the hinged cover that rests over the engine of a front-engine vehicle. Its purpose is to provide access to the engine for repair and maintenance.
Car hoods are typically constructed from steel and sometimes from aluminum.
In UK terminology, a hood refers to a fabric covering over the passenger compartment of the car (known as the “roof” or “top” in the US).
For many motor vehicles built in the 1930s and 1940s, the resemblance to an actual hood is clear when it is opened and viewed from the front; in modern vehicles, it still serves the same purpose, but no longer resembles head covering.
On front-engine cars, the hood may be hinged at either the front or the rear edge, or in earlier models (e.g. the Ford Model T) it may be split into two sections, one on each side, each hinged along the centerline.
A further variant combines the bonnet and wheel arches into one section and allows the entire front bodywork to tilt forwards around a pivot near the front of the vehicle.
Hoods are usually made from the same material as the rest of the body. This can be steel, aluminum, fiberglass, or carbon fiber. However, some aftermarket companies produce fiberglass or carbon fiber steel hood replacements to make the vehicle lighter.
The hood release system is common on most vehicles and typically consists of an inner hood latch/lock handle, a hood release cable, and a hood lock assembly.
The hood lock handle is usually located under the steering wheel, next to the driver’s seat, or in the door frame.
For racing cars or vehicles with aftermarket hoods (that do not use the factory latch system) the hood can be held down by hood pins. Some aftermarket hoods that have a latch system still have hood pins to keep the hood buttoned down if the latch fails.
A hood may contain a hood ornament, hood scoop, power bulge, and/or wiper jets.
Understanding the Hood Latch Mechanism
Modern vehicle hoods utilize a two-stage locking system designed for safety and structural integrity.
The primary latch is engaged by the interior release cable, which retracts the latch mechanism from the striker bar mounted on the underside of the hood. This action releases the hood to a slightly ajar position, typically lifting it by about an inch.
Once the primary latch is released, the hood is still held securely by a secondary safety catch, which is manually operated by the user from the front of the vehicle. This secondary mechanism prevents the hood from flying open unexpectedly while the car is moving.
The entire latch assembly is generally positioned centrally in the front of the engine bay, secured to the radiator support frame.
The goal of external access is to directly actuate the primary latch lever, thereby simulating the pulling force that the now-broken cable is unable to provide.
Why It’s Important to Know How to Open a Car Hood?
Before diving into the mechanics, it’s worth understanding why this knowledge is so important. Here are a few practical reasons:
- Performing routine checks on coolant, oil, and brake fluid levels.
- Quick visual inspections in case of overheating or odd engine noises.
- Accessing the battery in case of jump-starting needs.
- Maintaining basic car safety awareness and self-sufficiency.
Understanding how your vehicle works begins with simple access points like the hood. With this guide, even beginners can grasp the process with confidence.
How to Open a Car Hood From Outside?
Tools You Might Need
Having the right tools on hand will make the process much easier and more efficient.
- Coat Hanger or Stiff Wire: Essential for manipulating the hood latch mechanism from a distance.
- Flashlight: For illuminating the area under the hood and providing better visibility.
- Screwdrivers and Wrenches: For removing the grille or other components, if necessary.
- Jack and Jack Stands: For safely lifting the vehicle to access the underside.
- Wire Cutters: For cutting the hood release cable, as a last resort.
- Gloves: To protect your hands from dirt and sharp edges.
- Patience: Persistence is key, as this can be a time-consuming task.
Step By Step Process Of Open a Car Hood From Outside
#1. Locating the Release Lever.
Locating the release lever to open your car’s hood is the first step to checking what’s under the hood. It’s like finding a key to open a door. Usually, it’s inside the car, often under the dashboard or near where you put your feet.
Look around the driver’s side, and you might see a small lever or a button that you pull or push. Sometimes, it has a picture of a car with an open hood to help you spot it easily.
When you find this lever or button, give it a gentle pull or press it. This action works like a signal to the hood latch that it’s time to open up. It’s a bit like sending a message to unlock something.
This first step is important because it starts the process of getting access to the engine and other important parts of the car.
If you’re not sure where exactly to look, you can check your car’s manual. The manual is like a guidebook that comes with your car.
It has pictures and explanations to show you where everything is and how to use it. This can be really helpful if you’re new to opening the hood of your car or if you have a different kind of car than you’re used to.
Once you find and pull the release lever, you’re ready for the next step: moving to the front of the car.
This is where you’ll find the hood release catch, which is what you’ll need to lift or pull to fully open the hood. It’s like finding the handle to open a door after unlocking it with a key.
#2. Pulling the Release Lever.
Pulling the release lever is the next important step to open your car’s hood. Once you’ve located the lever inside your car, near the driver’s side, it’s time to give it a gentle pull. This action is like giving a small tug on something to make it work.
When you pull the release lever, you’re basically telling the hood latch under the hood to get ready to open. It’s similar to pressing a button to start a machine. This step is crucial because it disengages the latch that keeps the hood closed securely.
If you’re not sure how much force to use, don’t worry—it usually doesn’t need a lot of strength. Just a firm but gentle pull is usually enough to activate the mechanism. Some cars might have a button instead of a lever, which you can press instead of pulling.
After pulling the release lever, you might hear a click sound. That’s the latch inside the car releasing the hood. It’s like a signal that the hood is now ready to be opened.
Once you hear or feel this click, you’re ready to move to the front of the car and find the hood release catch, which you’ll need to lift or pull to fully open the hood.
Remember, if you’re unsure about anything, consulting your car’s manual can be really helpful. It’s like having a guidebook that tells you exactly how to do things with your specific car model.
This way, you can be confident that you’re doing it right and safely opening your car’s hood to check or work on the engine.
#3. Moving to the Front of the Car.
Moving to the front of the car is the next step after pulling the release lever to open the hood.
Once you’ve done that inside the car, it’s time to walk around and go to the front part where the hood is located. This is like moving to the front door of a house after unlocking it.
When you get to the front of your car, look around the center part of the hood. There, you’ll find the hood release catch. It’s usually a small lever or a tab that you need to lift or pull. This catch is what actually opens the hood all the way, like lifting a handle to open a door.
Finding the hood release catch might take a moment, but it’s usually not hard to locate. It’s designed to be accessible so you can easily open the hood whenever you need to check or work on your car’s engine.
Once you’ve located the hood release catch, lift it up or pull it towards you. This action will fully release the hood latch, allowing the hood to open up. It’s similar to turning a key to unlock a door completely after opening it a little bit with the first step.
After you’ve lifted or pulled the hood release catch, you can gently raise the hood upwards. Some cars have a support rod that you can prop up to keep the hood open. This helps you safely access the engine and other parts under the hood without it falling down.
#4. Finding the Hood Release Catch.
Finding the hood release catch is the next step after pulling the lever inside your car to open the hood. Once you’ve done that, walk around to the front of your car.
Look near the center of the front part where the hood meets the car’s body. You’re searching for a small lever or tab. It might be a bit hidden but it’s usually easy to spot once you know where to look.
Imagine it like finding a tiny handle on a big box—it’s there to help you open it. This hood release catch is what you need to lift or pull to fully unlock the hood. It’s a bit like using a key to unlock a door completely after you’ve turned the lock.
When you see the hood release catch, gently lift it up or pull it towards you. This action releases the latch that’s holding the hood down. It’s like pressing a button to open something you’ve unlocked. After you lift or pull the catch, you’ll be able to lift the hood up.
Some cars have a support rod under the hood that you can use to hold it up once it’s open. This rod keeps the hood safely in place while you check or work on the engine. It’s like having a stick to prop open a heavy door so it doesn’t close by itself.
#5. Lifting the Hood.
Lifting the hood is the next step after you’ve found and pulled the hood release catch to fully unlock it. Once you’ve done that, you’re ready to gently lift the hood upwards. This is like slowly raising a heavy lid to see what’s inside a box.
When you lift the hood, do it carefully and steadily. Some hoods are heavier than others, so it’s important to use both hands and lift it evenly. Imagine it like opening a big book—you want to lift it smoothly so you can see inside without any problems.
As you lift the hood, you might notice it stays up on its own. Many cars have a support rod that automatically props the hood open and keeps it steady. This rod is there to help you work safely under the hood without it accidentally closing on you.
If your car doesn’t have an automatic support rod, you might need to find a prop rod under the hood.
It’s usually a metal rod that you can manually place to keep the hood open. Think of it like using a stick to hold a door open—it keeps the hood securely in place while you check or fix things underneath.
Once the hood is open and secured, you have access to the engine and other important parts of your car. This allows you to do maintenance or check fluids like oil and coolant. It’s like peeking inside to make sure everything is working well.
#6. Securing the Hood.
Securing the hood is the final step after you’ve finished checking or working on your car’s engine. Once you’re done, you’ll want to make sure the hood is safely closed and won’t accidentally open while you’re driving.
First, gently lower the hood back down until it’s about a foot away from closing completely. This is like gently closing a big book so it doesn’t slam shut.
Next, push the hood down until you hear or feel it latch securely. It’s usually a gentle push to make sure it’s closed tight, like closing a door firmly but not too hard.
After closing the hood, always double-check to ensure it’s fully latched. You can do this by giving it a light tug to see if it’s secure. It’s similar to checking if a door is locked before leaving.
If your car has a support rod, remember to carefully remove it and stow it back in its place under the hood. This rod helps keep the hood open but should be safely stored away when the hood is closed.
Once you’ve secured the hood properly, you’re ready to go. It’s like making sure everything is in place before you start driving again.
Maintaining Your Hood Latch and Release System
To ensure your hood opens when you need it to, perform regular checks and maintenance on the latch system:
#1. Clean and Lubricate the Latch Mechanism.
Use a light lubricant to keep the hood latch and interior release cable functioning smoothly. Wipe away any dirt or grime before applying lubricant.
#2. Inspect the Hood Release Cable.
Periodically check the cable for fraying or stretching. A loose or damaged cable can fail to fully disengage the latch.
#3. Test Your Hood Opening Regularly.
Instead of waiting until maintenance needs arise, periodically practice opening your hood. This ensures familiarity and functionality in stressful moments.
FAQs.
Q: Can You Pop a Car Hood From Outside?
Yes. But, this may differ based on the model of the car. Older models of vehicles have their release latch in front, under the lever while the newer models have theirs somewhere inside the car cabin.
Therefore, to open the hood, you’ll have to first locate the latch and pull it with a screwdriver or spanner.
Take note that opening the hood of your car without following the proper steps can damage the hood or latch, and cause an increase in the mechanic charge for repairs.
Q: How Do You Open a Hood With a Broken Cable?
If you’re thinking of how to open the hood of a car with a broken cable, you shouldn’t get scared. It’s normal for your car hood cable to break as a result of prolonged use or corrosion.
Interestingly, you can still open your hood with the broken cable. Here are the steps to follow:
- Hold the release latch with pliers and pull to see if it’ll open the hood.
- If it doesn’t open, locate the slight indent behind the front grill on of your car. You’ll find a spring lever in the indent, beneath the front grill.
- Use a giant flat screwdriver to hold the release cables to trigger them by either pushing or pulling the loop at the end of the cables to release the hood. You can even go ahead and search for how to open the hood with a screwdriver.
Q: How to Open the Hood of Your Lexus From Outside?
Possibly, your car battery may have died, and you’re looking for how to open a car hood with a dead battery. Worry no more! These steps will guide you.
You’ll have to first park your car on a leveled surface. Then, turn off the ignition and apply the emergency brakes.
Move to the front of the car and pull the hatch with a screwdriver or spanner until it unlocks.
Q: How Do You Open a Frozen Hood?
Sometimes all efforts to open the hood could be futile because it is stuck or frozen. When the weather is cold, it could cause the hood not to open because of condensation.
Here’s how to open the hood of a car:
- You’ll need first to warm up the engine to warm the frozen parts of the hood.
- Try opening the hood once the car is warm by pulling the release latch.
- In addition, it is advisable to reach out to the mechanic to inspect the latch and replace or lubricate it, if need be.
Q: How Do You Manually Open a Car Hood?
If the release latch inside the vehicle isn’t responding, here’s how to open a car hood without release:
Go outside the car with a bent hook. It could be a long welding rod. Locate the cable that connects to the hood latch inside the car. Pull off the spring with the welding or any bent hook. Ply up the hood mechanism.
Go ahead and slightly raise the hood. This should cause the hood to pop up a bit. Slide your hand under the hood and pull the latch the usual way.
Final Words
This short guide will answer your query on how to open a car bonnet without a key on top of educating you successfully open a car hood from outside. For sure, it is not as stressful as you have thought before going through this article.
But the ways of how to open the hood of a Volkswagen car may slightly differ from how to open the hood of a Subaru car. Never go frustrated at it as finding the right steps will help you open your car since each car has its peculiar procedures.
However, we’ve made the process easy for you by providing you with the right generic steps on how to open a car hood from the outside. It will guide you through the whole process till you finally fix the hood problem.