Hood latch will not release

905 Views 6 Replies 5 Participants Last post by Marek K, 2 mo ago

Lulu

Discussion Starter · 2 mo ago

Does anyone know how to manually open the hood on a 2017? I am not sure if they vary by year or not. I pull the lever from inside the car and it will not release both sides at same time. I do not remember if there is a middle release latch, but I do not think so.
I have tried multiple times to open the hood and a couple times I was able to get the left side to release but not the right side. Then I pushed down on the hood and the next time it was the opposite.
maybe there is a trick to this.

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Ops

· #2 · 2 mo ago

middle is the only release i know once you pop from inside

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Marek K

· #3 · 2 mo ago

Welcome!

Yeah, as Ops's link indicates, there are two latches on the sides that both release when you pull the inside hood release handle. Then there's the yellow center safety latch that has to be manually pulled.

But both side latches should release at the same time. No trick to it.

So you haven't been able to get both to release, and so can't open your hood? I'd keep trying -- then, once it's open, look to see how the latches are operating. Maybe it'll just take a shot of silicone lube...

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Mrsig

· #4 · 2 mo ago

and enjoy the forum!

We have had the passengers side latch break and the hood would not open but the dealer fixed it for us.

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Marek K

· #5 · 2 mo ago

I just took a closer look at how the hood latches work on my 2021 Trailhawk.

Turns out the hood release lever under the dashboard only releases the driver's side latch. This one -- you can see where the cable comes into it from the rear, and releases the latch just above the yellow arrow:

Hood Automotive tire Motor vehicle Automotive design Automotive exterior

The other latch, on the passenger side, is the safety latch -- that claw at the arrow is spring-loaded...

Automotive tire Hood Motor vehicle Automotive design Automotive lighting

...and is pulled back (or actually forward) by the cable coming in from the front, releasing the other steel loop under the hood. That cable in turn is pulled when you move the yellow safety release under the front-center of the hood:

Motor vehicle Grey Automotive exterior Bumper Tints and shades

I'm actually surprised; I'd always assumed that the hood was held tightly shut on both sides.

So if only the left (driver's) side is releasing when you pull the inside handle, that's normal. The other side is released by the yellow release.

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Mud Pie

· #6 · 2 mo ago

The passenger side of my 2017 has a bad cable, while it releases, it refuses to lock back when the hood is dropped. I have to forcefully push down on the left side of the hood when closing to get it to lock.

One time while at the dealer getting my oil changed, the tech informed me about the cable. The replacement cost was crazy high, I told him I can push the hood down for free. It was not replaced.

About a week later I popped my hood to check my oil (a weekly thing with this vehicle) and noticed the left side latch did not fully release. That's new. I used a long shaft screwdriver, reached in and slid the locking latch out of the way. Turns out the Jeep tech already began removal of the cable because it was no longer attached to the latch assembly, assuming I'd bite the bait and have them replace it. Idiot. I put it back where it was and it's back to the way it was.

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Marek K

· #7 · 2 mo ago

Mud Pie said:
The passenger side of my 2017 has a bad cable, while it releases, it refuses to lock back when the hood is dropped. I have to forcefully push down on the left side of the hood when closing to get it to lock.

Sounds like the cable just got some grit or something inside of it...? So pulling the lever released the latch, but the spring wasn't strong enough to overcome the cable's friction?

Is it still doing that? Have you tried squirting some silicone lube onto/into the ends, and hoping it capillaries through the cable?

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