# Hood latch

**URL:** <https://community.cartalk.com/t/hood-latch/32839>\
**Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\
**Tags:** cutlass, oldsmobile\
**Created:** [July 4, 2009, 5:09am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/hood-latch/32839 "2009-07-04T05:09:18Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![darainey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/c68b51/32.png) [@darainey](https://community.cartalk.com/u/darainey)\
**Post date:** [July 4, 2009, 5:09am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/hood-latch/32839/1 "2009-07-04T05:09:18Z")

</div>

I own a 1990 Oldsmobile Cutlass Ciera. Tonight I was trying to go to work, when I started to car the battery died on me. Then the hood would not open at all. So my question is, how hard is it to fix a hood latch when the hood will not open at all?

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![edb1961](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/edb1961/32/122_2.png) [@edb1961](https://community.cartalk.com/u/edb1961)\
**Post date:** [July 4, 2009, 2:41pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/hood-latch/32839/2 "2009-07-04T14:41:56Z")

</div>

When hood latch on my 93 Caprice sticks I pull the release handle then I push down on the hood a few times. This usually pops the hood loose.

Ed B.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![BustedKnuckles](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/bustedknuckles/32/25_2.png) [@BustedKnuckles](https://community.cartalk.com/u/BustedKnuckles)\
**Post date:** [July 4, 2009, 3:05pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/hood-latch/32839/3 "2009-07-04T15:05:17Z")

</div>

If Ed B.'s suggestion works, I’d spray down the hood latch mechanism with a good spray lubricant. Avoid WD-40. It is a good cleaner, but will dry out quickly. I like a good lithum grease spray.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![ChrisTruck](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/aeb1de/32.png) [@ChrisTruck](https://community.cartalk.com/u/ChrisTruck)\
**Post date:** [July 4, 2009, 3:19pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/hood-latch/32839/4 "2009-07-04T15:19:40Z")

</div>

Try having someone push and lift on the hood while pulling the release out. If you get it open, clean the grime off the cable and latch then lubricate it.