Andy’s DIY: How to open Honda Pilot /Odyssey Hood when latch/cable malfunctions

Removed hood latch to replace cooling fan. Did not have hood release cable in correct place, resulting in not being able to open hood with hood release latch inside vehicle. Will show how I was able to open hood from bottom of vehicle.

[rockgarrison]

This works very well it was a charm 5 minutes to jack car up 1 minute to pop it. Great video man thanks 👍

[joshuasanmiguel]

Thanks for saving me the hassle and cost if taking it to a dealership! Wasn't easy but I did it thanks to your video. My pilot has a skirt I had to work around and it helped to drive the front end on some boards to get a little more wiggle room for the bar and flashlight. Be careful not to poke the radiator in the process, good luck!

[ryansornberger]

I used a long radiator hose pick with the under shield removed, video worked and was a huge help for where to poke around at. Huge thanks.

[egmac]

If car was recently worked on and the hood release cable sleeve was not seated in the bracket but the cable is still in the leaver you can pull down on the cable to release the hood.

[marshallhendley]

Thank you so much! This is exactly the instruction I have been in need of . Excellent video. I haven't had my MDX hood open in so long I can't remember. I checked my oil at the gas station and it was a quart low so since I had some at home I shut the hood and when I went to open it again, Nothing. That was a few months ago. I'm certain I can get it open now.

[dennissecor]

Thank you I bought a 1/2 x 48 inch flat steel from home Depot and bent one end in the shape of an L and it took several attemps but I got it my cable broke

[skyveteran]

Does the Acura mdx 04 have the same latch?

[swmgec]

Oh, this would be easy if it weren't for the wire harness directly in my way, which I do not see evidence of in this video. Not only does it occlude my view, but it makes it virtually impossible to use the fan housing to leverage the bit I need to leverage to release the hood. Andy: my only suggestions would be to explain the orientation of the device when you're shooting so it's not so confusing. First you're above it, shooting down, then you're shooting from beneath the release housing though you're looking down. Additionally, focus on the part for a long enough period that we can see what is what. Thanks anyway, but if I don't spring this thing today, I'm taking it in.

[ad]

Your Video is good. but why dont you list the Year Model that this applies to ?

[kinkinmyslinky]

Quick version: Loosen the bolts (#10) and reposition the latch mech as high as it will go then retighten.
I just had this happen while adding ww fluid. After “slamming” the hood shut a few times, taking the latch mech out twice, cleaning, taking springs off/on etc. the quick version fixed the issue. No 4’ rod needed. The spring loaded latch on the left that locks the hood pin in place needs to lock together with the latch release. If your 2 springs are i place and latch release cable are all in place, it’s probably just out of alignment. The u bracket on your hood isn’t pushing down enough to engage the lock between the 2 levers.

[danieldeshotel]

My sister in laws pilot has a big bracket in the way... I can barely see the spring on the left and I cannot see the arm to release it. I fought with it but was unsuccessful. Fairly sure the cable and ferule are popped out of the housing from what I can see. but then I run into that bracket and I seem to see the latch but its behind the curved black housing and the bracket is in the way so cant get to it.

[jhdez]

Help Honda Odyssey 1998 ? Old version of them !! Thank you all

[lostintime]

Mine doesn't look that way. It has a cover on it.

[fomocok]

Skip to 1:30 to get the beginning of the helpful part. Everything before that is garbage video.

[matthewchick]

In video he shows a straight shot to the latch. But in fact there is a bracket there. Since he already had hood opened, he probably removed it to make it look easy. Give him a zero rating