With a Hyundai Sonata hood release broken, you may be wondering just how it is possible to open your hood.
It may seem impossible to do since you need the latch to work properly. Otherwise, trying to open it can be a pain.
But here’s the good news – you can still open the hood with special – and simple – technicals even with a Hyundai Sonata hood latch that’s no longer in the best condition.
How do you do it, you may ask? Keep reading to know more about these simple tips before you head over to a professional mechanic!
Hyundai Sonata Hood Release Broken – What You Can Do
When your Hyundai Sonata hood won’t open easily because of a broken latch, it can be easy to feel hopeless that there’s no way you can get it to work as normal.
After all, the latch and the cable are essential to easily open the hood. But if there’s damage to these parts, you can try the following steps that will potentially spare you from the hassle of going to a mechanic.
1. Work on the release handle.
Locate the hood release handle in your vehicle. You should be able to easily find it, and once you do, simply pull the handle. You should hear a release sound, and you’ll be ready for the next step.
2. Push the hood down.
Another thing you can do is to push on the hood hard a few times. However, be sure to be cautious at the same time, since the last thing you want to happen is to cause a dent on your hood.
The repeated action of pushing down on the hood may eventually jiggle the latch open. Then, it should allow you to open your hood easily.
3. Have someone to help you lift the hood.
This is a two-person task, which would involve you pulling the release handle while the other person lifts the hood manually. Try this step if the first technique we just presented does not cause the hood to open.
4. Get your tools ready.
If steps one through three won’t work, then you can try this technique. Using your flashlight, shine the light through the grill. This will give you a clearer view of the hood latch.
Then, use a long screwdriver to push the release latch. Be sure to apply some pressure as you do so, since it may be a bit stiff and tricky to do.
Maneuver your screwdriver to eventually release the hood latch. Once you are able to release it, slightly press down on your hood. By doing so, you can release the secondary latch located under the hood, thus allowing you to completely raise the hood.
Additional Tips To Open Your Hood With A Broken Latch
The steps we have shared with you above are just some things you can do to be able to open the hood to fill your oil, refill the wiper liquid, and so on.
But the bigger problem is dealing with a broken latch. This would require a more sophisticated technique – and be prepared to get dirty because it’s simply not too easy to do so. Thankfully, it’s ultimately possible to work, so here are the steps you can try.
1. Let the engine cool.
Since you will be dealing with your hood, you will need to let your engine cool first before you do anything to it. Wait for about 30 minutes, especially if you have been running your vehicle.
Once you no longer feel the heat coming out of the grill, it should be safe to poke around, especially underneath your hood. Then, you can move on to the next step.
2. Locate the hood release.
Look for the hood release in your vehicle, which is oftentimes underneath the dashboard. Press it or pull it, until you are able to lift your hood up to a couple of inches. This will not disconnect the hood from the latch, but that’s what you’ll eventually get to do in the next steps.
If you are unable to find the hood release tab, you can always refer to your driver’s manual. However, if you have done this step and the hood still fails to open, the wire is probably damaged.
Still can’t find it this way? Then, you will have to go underneath your car…
For this step, prepare to get a little dirty. You may need to find your latch from under the vehicle.
Use a creeper to roll yourself easily underneath. From there, you should be able to spot a tiny hole with a metal latch that hangs down.
3. Trip your latch.
Press the latch away from the hood using a long piece of metal. You may need to inspect the wire’s direction that runs from the latch. This will give you an idea on the direction needed for punching the latch.
However, if the hood still fails to open, you will have no choice except to take your car to a professional mechanic.
But if you were successful enough to trip it, you can lubricate your latch in case it is jammed. A lithium lubricant spray should help, which is probably all your latch needs when it’s stuck or broken.
Wear your safety goggles before you start spraying. Do not, however, use silicone spray. It will impair your engine’s performance while contaminating the oxygen sensor in your vehicle.
4. Fix the latches.
If you notice that the latch is misaligned or bent, then you need to fix it by making some adjustments.
In most cases, latches fail to work well due to misalignment. So, once you have found the latch, move it by loosening the bolts. Twist the bolts from side-to-side until you have found the right alignment with the hood’s inner panel opening.
At this point, you can now shift the latch up and down, which will then allow it to fit well between the top of the hood and the fenders. Lastly, tighten the latch bolts and test it out by opening and closing the hood to check if it’s easier to work with and no longer getting stuck.
Final Thoughts
A Hyundai Sonata hood release that’s broken can be a hassle when all you need is to open and close it with ease.
But before you head over to a mechanic, you may try the steps we have just shared with you to see if these can open the hood without professional assistance.
Try these techniques and hopefully, you will be able to get the results you want. These should save you some time and money from taking your vehicle straight to a mechanic – especially if all it needs are some simple troubleshooting.