How to open the hood lock if it is not possible to do this using the standard lever? To open a simple mechanical lock, you need to directly act on the latch or drive cable using tools and improvised devices. In the case of electromechanical ones, an additional power source or a backup cable can help, if it was provided in advance. You will learn how to act in a specific situation from our article.
The main reasons why the hood does not open, quick ways to open and fix the problem are presented in the table:
| Symptom | Cause | How to open | Solution |
| Lock jamming during normal lever operation | The lock latches are worn due to lack of lubrication | Press the hood several times in the area of the lock while pressing the lever | Cleaning and lubricating system components |
| Mechanical damage to lock components | Find access to the lock latch using a wire loop by removing the fender liner, headlight or grille | Repair the hood lock | |
| The lever moves with little resistance | A hood cable that has stretched over time cannot pull the lock latch. | Remove the lever and its casing, pull directly on the cable | Adjust the cable length |
| The lever moves without resistance | A broken or slipped cable does not pull the lock latch | Find the cable break and pull the remaining part or find access to the lock latch | Replace the hood cable |
| The lock does not open in cold weather when the lever operates normally | Lock components are frozen | Warm up the lock components - warm up the vehicle as a whole or locally, or warm up the engine. Press down on the hood near the lock to break the ice. | Cleaning and lubricating system components |
| Does not open because the battery is discharged (for electromechanical ones) | A discharged battery does not supply power to the opening mechanism | Use a spare cable or provide a backup power source | Charge the battery |
Problems with the mechanical hood lock
If your standard hood lock is jammed and you don’t know how to open it, then first of all you need to organize access to the engine compartment from the front bumper. To do this, the car can:
- put on a pit;
- drive onto an overpass;
- lift it using an electric lift.
If the cause of the breakdown is the lock spring, then you need someone to strongly pull the hood release lever towards you, and a second person at the same time sharply presses the edges of the hood. This may cause the spring to straighten and release the lock.
You can also try to open the hood lock from under the car. A long stick or a screwdriver will help with this; you need to use it to try to bend the lock tongue. In this case, you will also need an assistant who will prevent the hood from closing.
Emergency service “Door Master” - prompt assistance from professionals in Minsk
How to open the hood if the cable is broken? Contacting the specialists of the Door Master car opening service in Minsk is the most reasonable solution if the hood cable has come off and the driver was unable to fix the problem on his own or was left outside the car without a key. Our specialists go to the repair site immediately after submitting an application and promptly fix the problem without damaging the car or additional costs for its restoration. If necessary, they will supply a new steel hood lock actuator, guaranteeing its impeccable service throughout its entire operational life.
The hood lock is broken
A common problem for foreign cars and to troubleshoot, follow the instructions:
- Take an electrode or thin wire. Make a hook at the end and push it through the grate.
- Turn on a flashlight to quickly identify where the pull is slipping.
- Tear off the loop where it attaches to the lock. To do this, remove the metal “whiskers” from it.
- Insert a long object between the antennae. Alternatively, you can use a screwdriver.
- Carefully turn the device counterclockwise.
- Lift the lid and open it.
2007-2014 Skoda Fabia Checking interior fuses
The video above shows how to check for blown fuses in the interior fuse box of your 2010 Skoda Fabia and where the fuse panel diagram is located. If your bright map, stereo, heated seats, headlights, power windows, or other electronic components suddenly stop working, you most likely have a blown fuse. If your Fabia has electrical problems, you should always check the fuses first, as they are relatively easy to check and cheap to replace. Some Skodas have multiple internal fuse boxes, even in the boot - the video above will show you where your Fabia is. 2010 fuse box. The more electronics your Fabia has, the more fuses it has. Some components may have multiple fuses, so be sure to check all fuses associated with the component.
If you need to replace a blown fuse in your Fabia, be sure to replace it with one that has the same amperage as the blown fuse. If checking and replacing the fuse for the component in question does not help, we recommend that you seek the help of a trusted professional mechanic to determine whether the component needs replacing, a short circuit, or another problem with your Fabia.
How to extend the life of a cable drive
To prevent trouble with a broken cable from happening at the wrong time, you should take care of its serviceability in advance. To do this, during vehicle maintenance, pay attention to the condition of the drive mechanism as a whole. If the rod is very stretched, replace it. By following simple rules it is easy to extend the life of the hood opening drive.
- When installing a new cable, be sure to lubricate its outputs with lithol or machine oil. Also treat the inner surface of the cover.
- To replace, choose a multi-core cable. Its advantage is strength, flexibility, and slow wear.
- When laying a new cable, try to make fewer sharp bends. It's better to take the cable a little longer.
- Avoid sudden movements on the lever.
- Periodically pour lubricating oil into the installed cable, for example, using a syringe.
- When a breakdown occurs and there is no way to fix it instantly, tie the cable into a knot around the latch.
- Before starting the journey, you need to check how tightly the hood is closed. Unintentional opening of the luggage compartment lid while driving can provoke an emergency situation.
- You cannot use simple wire or rope instead of a special cable.
According to statistics, the service of opening the hood is one of the most popular in car service centers. Especially in winter. A conscientious car owner who carefully monitors the condition of all car parts will avoid a trip to the service station for this reason.
Replacing headlights 2007-2014 Skoda Fabia
The video above shows how to replace a headlight in a Skoda Fabia 2010. Headlights dim by 20% over time and burn out over time, so it is recommended to replace headlights in pairs. Replacing both bulbs at the same time on the Fabia will allow both bulbs to have the same intensity and prevent the new bulb from appearing brighter than the bulb on the opposite side. In some Skodas, the high beam is the same as the headlights, and the high beam may work, but the headlight burns out, even if it is the same bulb (and vice versa). Some Skodas have high intensity discharge headlights, sometimes called xenon headlights. Very high voltage passes through these bulbs even when the battery is disconnected. If your Fabia has this type of lamp, we do not recommend that you attempt to change it yourself.
When replacing a headlight on a Fabia, it is important not to touch the glass part of the lamp with your fingers because the oil from your fingertips will cause that part of the lamp to overheat, which will significantly reduce the life of the lamp bulb.
If the lock is frozen
Do the following:
- Find a second person who will need to press the hood in the lock area.
- Sit in the cabin and pull the lever connected to the cable.
- Have an assistant press the hood in the area indicated in the first paragraph.
If there is no result, reheat the lock. To do this, you can drive your car for 30-40 minutes in a warm room, warm up the engine, use a hairdryer or hot water.
In the latter case, act quickly, because in severe frost, hot water will quickly turn into ice.
Another option is to use alcohol or a special defrosting solution if you have access to locking mechanisms.
Dead battery
The problem is typical for electromechanical locks that require voltage from the on-board network.
There are two methods available here:
- Use the spare cable that was installed when you installed the lock.
- Power the device from an additional power source.
But for example on a Ford Mondeo 4 you can use at least 5mm thick wire bent into a poker shape as shown below.
When choosing the first option, do the following:
- Decide on the location of the cable. Its placement is individual for different car models.
- Pull it to open the hood.
The owner's procedure if the lock is broken
The sequence of operations that allow you to open the engine compartment lid in a situation where any of its parts has broken depends on the manufacturer and model of the car. In the case where the spring-loaded latch of the locking device has a shaped protrusion, the opening method is used using a hook at the end of an electrode or other similar device.
If access to the lock elements from outside the car is impossible, try to reach the locks with your hand, a screwdriver or other tool from below. After this, move the latch to the side. Often you have to use an extension cord for this.
In some cases, in order to open the front cover on certain brands of cars, it is enough to unscrew the bolts securing the lock. After this, it is lifted up along with the lid. Having eliminated the malfunction, put the fasteners in their places.
Useful tips
As you follow the instructions above, keep the following tips in mind:
- If the rip cannot be repaired immediately, tie the cord in a knot near the latch before closing the hood.
- In the event of an accident, the latch can be moved, which will lead to disruption of its functionality. In this case, manual configuration may be required.
- On some older car models, the hinges are installed at the front so that the hood is locked in place when the hood is opened.
- In many cars, the hood cannot be kept open. To do this, use the support rod provided by the manufacturer.
If the lock is jammed
A common situation is when the locking mechanism is jammed and changing the position of the lever does not produce results.
Do the following:
- Park the car on a level surface and apply the handbrake. It is best to work near the house or in the garage.
- Find the hood release handle in the cabin. As a rule, it is located to the left of the driver, below or under the glove compartment.
- Pull the lever. If the hood does not open, knock on it with your other hand by reaching through the door or asking an assistant. Proceed carefully to avoid deformation of the hood.
- Get a helper. Have someone pull the lever while you lift the hood up. If the problem is a dirty or jammed lock, this method can resolve the problem.
- Inspect the locking hook for damage. Use lubricant to treat mechanism elements. The use of silicone adhesive is not recommended due to the risk of contamination of the oxygen sensor.
The hood latch does not open well
The most common reason why it won't budge could be a broken wire cable. This can happen as the cable ages, either naturally or due to excess moisture in the air in some areas.
Solving this problem can be a little complicated, and you won't want to put time and stress into the process trying to solve this problem. The safest option is always to go to an auto mechanic rather than causing more damage while trying to fix the problem.
The first thing you can try to do is locate where the cable broke. You will need to carefully remove the panel around the front trunk release handle in the interior and follow the cable that is attached to it. If you find a damaged cable, use pliers to pull the end of the cable firmly, which may well cause the hood to open.
conclusions
The design of VAZ cars has some outdated elements that have not been used on modern car models for a long time. These include the hood release cable. If it breaks, its cover will jam and the car owner will have to open the engine compartment. This procedure is relatively simple and can be done independently, although you will have to spend quite a lot of time. In order to prevent such an unpleasant situation from occurring, it is necessary to modernly replace the cable, and also try not to apply significant physical effort to it.
Sometimes you really need to get into the engine compartment, but the car resists - the battery is discharged and does not allow you to open the hood lock, or the cable is broken. But there are ways.
Most often, the problem arises in full force when the battery dies in winter frosts - the car is de-energized and it is impossible to get into the cabin. Some break windows, although there are much more graceful, but also labor-intensive scenarios - you just need to get under the hood.
Determining the location of the break
Before you start restoring the cable drive, you need to determine the location of the break. To do this, you need to carefully examine the place where the rod is attached to the lever in the cabin. Perhaps the cable broke right there or the fastening itself broke. If a problem could not be detected on the interior side, then the break occurred in the area of the hood lock. There are three options for breaking the cable:
- near the castle;
- in the middle;
- near the start button or opening lever.
Important: the location of the cable device differs for different car models. Before starting repairs, you should familiarize yourself with the hood lock drive diagram.
It is easy to understand that the reason for the hood jamming is a broken cable: a characteristic sound will be heard when you press the lever.
Replace the broken cable with a new one
Whatever the reason for the cable break, replacing it cannot be avoided. This procedure is not complicated, even a novice car enthusiast can do it. Where to start work depends on the design of the car model. Having determined where the beginning and end of the fastener are, follow a certain order:
- Remove the damaged cable. The drive mechanism must be disconnected from the mountings on both sides. First, on the side where the break occurred, force open the hood. Then remove the cable from the fastening in the lock spring by pulling it back. Next, release the fastening near the start button.
- Install a new cable. This procedure begins from the engine compartment: the new rod is attached to the spring according to the same principle. Afterwards the cable is fixed in the mount with a plug. The next step is to feed the cable into the cabin through a special hole. But first you need to put a limiter on it - a plastic cap. Secure the new cable drive to the lever by tightening the loop.
What to do if the cable breaks near the lock
The owner is informed that the drive is broken near the lock by the free movement of the lever and the absence of a characteristic click when force is applied. However, the hood does not open in each of these cases.
To gain access to the engine compartment without a cable, you will have to remove the radiator grille. Through the resulting hole, feel for the lock latch and press on it. In some cars, the decorative grille is easily removable and is attached to release latches; in others, it is better not to remove it. A device that looks like a screwdriver with a long shaft and a flat working part will help you open the hood.
The performer’s task is to determine the entry point of the cable. After this, insert the blade of a screwdriver into the loop through a suitable gap in the grille and pull with force in the direction of opening the lock. In the event that the distance between the grille partitions does not allow the necessary actions to be performed, try to get to the lock mechanism from under the car with a screwdriver, moving the tool up along the radiator. The performer's task is to feel the lock latch lever and press on it.
DRL Replacement 2007-2014 Skoda Fabia
Daytime running lights, sometimes called DRL or DTR, are lights that turn on automatically when your 2010 Skoda Fabia is in motion. Because the daytime running lights come on every time you drive your Fabia, they often burn out first. The video above shows how to replace the daytime running lights on a 2010 Fabia. These bulbs will dim over 20% over time, so we recommend replacing both bulbs on your Fabia at the same time, even if only one bulb is burned out - This will allow both DRL bulbs to have the same intensity and prevent the old DRLs from appearing brighter than the new one.
When replacing the daytime running lights on a Fabia, it is important not to touch the glass part of the bulb with your fingers, as oil from your fingertips will cause that part of the bulb to overheat, which will significantly reduce the life of the incandescent bulb. Some studies show that driving with headlights on can reduce the number of accidents by 18-34%, driving with DRLs or headlights during the day can reduce the likelihood of an accident.
Sources
- https://AutoTopik.ru/sovet/kak-otkryt-kapot-snaruzhi.html
- https://www.lockservice.pro/otkryt-shkodu-fabiya-bez-klyucha
- https://tonirui.ru/raznoe/shkoda-fabiya-kak-otkryt-kapot-snaruzhi.html
