Last night I got pulled over for a headlight being out. Today I bought a new bulb. When I pulled on the hood release handle and it came off in my hand. I proceded to get some pliers and continue pulling on the cable. The hood is still not open and I now have slack in the cable and one headlight. Is there any way to get this hood open without using the cable? Any info is greatly appreciated!!

 

push the cable back in....all the way, then try grabbing with some pliers. it should release remember to open with the latch it only moves 3-4 inches. You aint got to pull it like your starting a lawn mower.

have a buddy apply a little pressure on the honda symbol on the hood...could be stuck.

if not, the next option requires removing the bumper, and it sorta sucks. or if you arent considered with your paint, grab a screw driver.

 

Make sure to have a NEW replacement (GENUINE HONDA) cable ready to go back in. I would never trust a used or OEM hood latch cable. You can find them on eBay for cheap....$25 or so. OEM is NOT the same thing as GENUINE HONDA.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/GENUINE-HOND...1e4f6c&vxp=mtr

 

Id say 80 percent of the time its just a broken latch...not a broken cable. There's cheaper (easier) ways to replace a broken latch, then replacing the whole cable. Unfortunately Ive done both, and fixing the broken latch is 5 mins, and the whole cable is over an hour.

if the cable is broken...that bumper has to come off to open the hood and in that case...buy the whole cable. I got mine at the dealer for around 30....its super common, and most dealers have them in stock.

 

They don't sell the parts individually. It's a ONE-PIECE kit.

 

I appreciate the info. Its looking like i need to pull the bumper off at this piont. I had a neighbor come over and try to lift the hood while I pulled on the cable. That didnt work so he decided to find the cable inside the grill and pull. It almost felt like it was about to release the hood then i think he pulled more slack in the cable. Oh well. Stupid question but whats involved in taking the bumper off? Or releasing the latch when i get the bumper off? Im no stranger to working on vehicles I just haven't had to work on this one very much. Thanks!

 

im aware.


Ive replaced a cable...and ive also did something like above. My gripe with replacing the cable is that its a weak part of the car...(majority of civics have this problem) so to replace the cable doesn't necessarily fix the problem that the part wasn't designed well to start with.

that and above is 5 mins and 5 bucks...and taking the cable out is a pita.
sounds like op cable is actually broken though, not just the lever, so that is goin to have to change it out

 

tell your friend to push down...not pull up. pulling up would put extra strain on the cable/latch.

 

A majority of the time, it's the cable that goes bad, not the lever/handle.

 

Where did u find that handle? I need one

 

So, I was able to get the hood open by taking out the bolts on the latch and just lifting the hood. Once open getting the latch off was a different story. That thing was frozen!! After fighting that the installation of the new latch and cable were a breeze. I still need to change the bulb and put the bumper back on when I get up but those should be easy. Thanks for all the input!! It is greatly appreciated!!

 

I am having the same problem. How did you reach the bolts on the hood release if you could not open the hood? What did you have to remove underneath the car to reach them? Thank you.

 

i need a handle too ... keep pulling it with pliers ... mine just snapped off ...