The Car Care Clinic with the Dr John

2000 Chevy Malibu Bonnet Release - Bonnet is stuck closed

Sandy from Ipswich

Question

How can you "unstick" a bonnet release cable on an "2000 Chevy Malibu? I can't open the bonnet to get my oil changed. It seems stripped!

Answer

That's no fun Sandy. Okay opening a hood of a vehicle that has a broken or stuck cable or even worse is a rusted or broken latch requires creative repairs. There is no book time and there is not a book out there that tells you how to do it. When such events show up in our shop it is just a puzzle to be solved. On some vehicles you can sneak in through the front grill and grab a part of the hood cable. Sometimes you have to unbolt the latch. That occurs after maybe the grill has been removed or the tech is working from under the vehicle. Sorry I have no easy answer here; it is just one of those jobs you have to work at.

Good Luck!
Dr. John