I can't get this thing open. Surely this has happened to someone on here before. I went to reach through the front to see if I could get to the latch assembly and I can't get my hand up there because the radiator blocks any open holes. Anyone know a trick to get the hood unlatched?

 

Here are the things that don't work:

don't even bother trying to get at the latch from the bottom of the car;
don't even waste time trying to bang on the hood, jiggling and fantasizing that it's not happening.
Ok here's what worked for me and another list member:

Go get a steel rod or a coat hanger that will fit into the gap between the bumper and the hood.
position the car so that you get plenty of sunlight or get a halogen lamp so you can see into the gap.


when you look into the gap, you'll see the latch. in the middle of the latch, there is a hole.


insert the rod which you will have bent to, I think, an L-shape into the gap.


now, insert the end into the hole with the bend now pointing up pull the rod straight to the right.
keep trying, it's not rocket science. for clarity, try looking at another rx7 or a miata. you'll see the hole that I'm talking about.


Do a search for - hood latch. Lots of people have had this problem. Take your time. I tried for a half hour and couldn't get it then I got it. Now I could do it in a few min. I used a mouse pad between my hood and the front clip. It was tight but with a flashlight I was able to find the hole. I used a coat hanger with a 1/4 inch 90 degree bend to pop mine.

 

I will definitely try that. I figured that would be the only way. Lucky for me when I did search prior to making this thread I found one that was talking about putting the latch back together and there are some big pictures of the assembly. Thanks for the suggestion!

I just wonder why it popped off like that. Curious as to what I will find. I hope the stupid cable didnt snap or the metal bit fall out.

 

Mine got stuck when I smushed my cable between the frame and the battery box. It wont matter if the cable came off or broke because you are pulling on the metal piece that moves inside the latch assembly. Also on your latch problem: When you put it back together and bolted it down did you tighten it up then close it? On mine it seemed to work better by leaving the bolts a bit loose. I then closed it several times letting it move it to it to where it wanted. Then I tightened the three bolts down and it seems to be as good as new.

 

FYI, new hood release cables are reasonably priced, like $30-40 or so for the whole cable with the plastic pull handle that goes in the interior.

Dale