How To Open The Hood When The Hood Release Cable Is Broken

In this video, I will show you how I opened the hood on my 2003 Ford F150 when my hood release cable was broken. I used a large flat head screwdriver to break into my engine compartment.

[kasybasket]

Thank you for this. My car battery died and it's parked on the road, so I seen many other videos that said how to get hood unstuck but all thr videos said the car needed to be jacked up, I'm parked on the road and on a slight hill, so couldn't do that, then I searched up how to do it with a screwdriver, and your video was the most informative.

[jeffrawe]

That video has been much appreciated by the local car thieves in my neighbourhood

[tufa]

truck battery died, can’t find the key fob, and can’t key in my code. your video is a lifesaver!! thank you, thank you, thank youuu!! xo

[naomimack]

AJ... thank you! As a woman, I'm learning about my truck and my battery recently died and the hood would not budge. I'm going to give this a try!

[johnnyc]

Took me 30 minutes to manipulate the plastic shroud over the release mechanism. 30 seconds to disengage it. I actually used the factory jack handle & a pair of needle nose to do it, straight thought the grill. (No damage done.) After cleaning & greasing the mechanism, I used the blunt screw end of the jack handle to reinstall the pin on the shroud (also, through the grill). Thanks a million for this video; it worked, perfectly. Hope my trick helps if anyone doesn't have a lot of tools on hand.

[jasonsmith]

Very Nice! Battery dead and keys locked up inside my 05 expedition. needed to put jumper on battery so i could use locksmith tools to hit my the electronic door unlock button. I couldn't ever get a screwdriver to work but I slid the bottom of my grill out and was able to reach in and pop it by hand since i knew just what i was looking for. Much appreciated sir!! :)

[MrJgohde]

*Here is a solution that worked on my 2001 Ford Explorer Scout, * when NONE of the recommended approaches would work. For some reason, my particular car seemed to be a bit different from all the other Ford Explorers. The Chevrolet Monte Carlo bottom up approach video worked on my explorer. The main problem was accessing the vehicle from the bottom up. There was no apparent access path. There is, however, ever one approach that works, which is located just right of your license plate. You have just enough room to stick your arm up it. You just have to push a tiny plunger that is connected to your cable wire. It was extremely easy to move, once you manage to put a flat screwdriver with an extra long shaft in the correct position.

[famdesales]

Locked out of Ford Expedition 2007 dead battery and ignition key wouldnt open door. Tryed charging through the hitch wires, unlocking with clothes hanger, nothing. Thanks to this video popped the hood in 10 secs with screw driver, charged my battery and crisis averted. Thank you. Ford Expedition basically an F150 without a truck bed.

[patrickbrandon]

Thanks a bunch for doing a video on this. I know it takes time, and I appreciate it. Worked for me. I was scratching my head until my head remembered YouTube.

[gregsharp]

Thank you for taking the time to make this video. I was able to get my hood open thanks to you. I have a 96 Ford F-250 and my latch is completely enclosed in a metal casing. If you look at the cable in your video (at 1:19) you’ll see that there’s a rubber grommet where the cable attaches to the latch. I pushed on the grommet until it popped out of its retaining slot, then I was able to grab the cable with needle-nose pliers and pop the lock. Hope this helps folks in a similar situation.

[johnpaine]

For %150 trucks with the "honeycomb" grill, you can approach the latching mechanism from the left, rather than the right as shown in the video. The pop tab AJ refers to in the video can be depressed using a thin piece of stiff wire rod. Thank you AJ!

[davepowerwagon]

Great info! You saved my family vacation!!

[travisthechimp]

AJ .. I just became aware of the hood release cable being broken on my F150 when I went to check the oil and clean up the battery terminals. I tried fishing around with a piece of flat steel in the same approximate location as you, but just couldn't find the sweet spot. Thank you Sir!
Now if I can find a video on how to fix the cable end without having to fish a new one I'll be in good shape! Thanks again!

[etanneriii]

Bro, you just saved me a very expensive call to the lock smith. Thank you. 🎉🎉🎉🎉

[grigorirasputin]

I've said "boom" several times... it still won't open

[CCBLUELIGHT]

Why on earth are there 235 dislikes haha. What can possibly be unlikable on a video about how to help people who cant get their hood open. What a weird thing to dislike hahaha

[cassicleaning]

Since arriving from Arizona to the much wetter area of Washington, I've had nothing but trouble with my 84' Caddy. Going to try and resolve other issues, couldn't open the hood but with this video, I think I can do it myself. Thanks!

[rebeccamcgrane]

Thank you. Ive been locked out of my expedition for 3 weeks battery in fob died and truck battery dead. This video saved me $50

[billheyen]

Thanks for posting a quick and simple solution. I really appreciate it!

[ecarrasco]

Thanks for this. My truck's battery is dead. The door cylinder has never worked so the remote doesn't work right now. The passenger side doesn't have a door lock cylinder. Life saver!