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2k1R/T
Dodge Dakota
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1/27/2004
19:04:25
|
 Subject: Can't get hood latch to open!!
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Message:
I closed my hood today and heard a sound that didn't sound right, but I have no idea what it could have been. I had nothing in the way because I wasn't even using any tools. I think the latch locked wrong or something because the latch won't even budge if I try to open the hood. It's like it's stuck or something. Does anyone know of a way to open it? Any help would be really appreciated.
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BigFatGreek
Dodge Dakota
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1/27/2004
19:14:45
|  RE: Can't get hood latch to open!!
IP: Logged
Message:
Spray some Windex on it
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disaster
Dodge Dakota
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1/28/2004
16:22:53
| RE: Can't get hood latch to open!!
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Message:
this happened to mine when it was new. you can pull on the release lever under the dash and it just flops around. it doesn't release the mechanism under the hood. you can tell if you pull hard you'll just break the lever.
you can use a long flat blade screwdriver to open it.
i'll try to describe it as best i can. follow the latch cable behind the grille to the latch mechanism. insert the screwdriver through the grill from the driver's side. you should be able to see the latching guide through the grill. you need to get the latch to rotate from the top center of the grill towards the passenger side. it rotates down to release i believe. (i'll re-check this at home tonight and send an update in the morning.) use the screwdriver blade to force the latch mechanism to rotate and it should release the hood latch.
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disaster
Dodge Dakota
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1/29/2004
11:56:05
| RE: Can't get hood latch to open!!
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Message:
i re-invented the process again last night. i'll try to describe it as best i can. bear with me. this is difficult to describe.
you need a long flat-head screwdriver. the blade of the screwdriver needs to be skinny enough to fit in a hole in the latch housing. shine a flashlight through the grill at the housing. you need to access it from the driver's side in the top opening in the grille.
follow the latch cable across the radiator support to the latch mechanism. the plastic cable sheathing stops at the latch housing. you'll see an opening in the housing where the cable sheathing ends. in the opening you'll see a metal receiver which accepts the end of the cable. a steel wire slides into a slot in the receiver. the steel wire has a "barrel" at the end of it. the receiver grips this barrel. the receiver looks like a pair of fangs pointing towards the front of the truck.
what you need to do is slide the end of the screwdriver into the opening in the housing and get it between the end of the fangs and the front of the housing. then you need to pivot the screwdriver so that the fangs move towards the driver's side. this will release the mechanism and allow you to open the hood. you can pivot the screwdriver blade on the latch housing so that you can get leverage on the fangs to release the latch.
if this description helps i'll be the most amazed.
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Kevin
Dodge Dakota
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10/11/2012
11:56:32
| RE: Can't get hood latch to open!!
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Message:
Thanks!! Best solution on the internet. No guess work very straight forward directions.
Thanks again!!
Kevin
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JBJ
Dodge Dakota
JOIN HERE
8/28/2014
19:47:40
| RE: Can't get hood latch to open!!
IP: Logged
Message:
Your explanation may have seemed complicated and
unclear, but once I looked more closely at the
latch, I could see exactly what you mean. I worked
on it for a while on my own, then decided to look up
a solution. After reading your post, I opened the
latch on the first try. Even closed and re-opened it
a few times to make sure it wasn't a fluke. Thanks a
bunch!
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Steven Silvas
Dodge Dakota
JOIN HERE
11/13/2014
17:21:55
|  RE: Can't get hood latch to open!!
IP: Logged
Message:
The latch under my dash just wiggles loosely
there is a wire of some sort in there I can feel it
if I break latch and pull that will it open and can
I close it?? Dodge dakota 2003 can't see wire
but I put my hand in there and felt it as if it
came loose help:[
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Steven Silvas
Dodge Dakota
JOIN HERE
11/13/2014
17:32:36
| RE: Can't get hood latch to open!!
IP: Logged
Message:
The latch under my dash just wiggles loosely
there is a wire of some sort in there I can feel it
if I break latch and pull that will it open and can
I close it?? Dodge dakota 2003 can't see wire
but I put my hand in there and felt it as if it
came loose help:[
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donaldperkins
Dodge Dakota
JOIN HERE
12/04/2015
00:21:01
| RE: Can't get hood latch to open!!
IP: Logged
Message:
thanks!you saved me time and money,dakota truck
for sale!
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Karan
Dodge Dakota
JOIN HERE
1/26/2016
08:46:29
|  RE: Can't get hood latch to open!!
IP: Logged
Message:
Thanks this information was great & helpful! the guy named "Disaster" was thoughtful to take the time to write this post!! It didn't fix my problem but I was able to follow the instructions & when following them, it made perfect sense. Even a non-mechanical girl could follow it! :-) Someone broke the grill & latch stole the battery out of our 2002 yDodge Dakota & now the hood is jammed shut but is popping out enough to possibly unjam it. Any ideas on how it may be locked on there? I'm searching for a photo of the hood & very front part of a dodge Dakota to help me figure it out. I think the latch got jammed somehow when the hood was put down after the break in. The box the battery was in is popping up the hood on the drivers side so I can see in a little bit... in hopes of figuring it out.
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Kurtis
Dodge Dakota
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11/28/2016
17:37:57
| RE: Can't get hood latch to open!!
IP: Logged
Message:
I have a 1998 Dakota Sport. I tried following
disaster's instructions, but I can't see anything
but the radiator behind my grille. Does anyone
else have aa 1998 that knows how to open the
hood??? As with all the posts, my inside latch is
useless. Any ideas. I do have a long screwdriver..
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Lance
Dodge Dakota
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9/15/2017
20:47:34
| RE: Can't get hood latch to open!!
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Message:
Thank you "disaster"!! The only post I found that
allowed me to open the hood. I really appreciate
it!
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Visitor
Dodge Dakota
JOIN HERE
2/28/2020
05:05:57
| RE: Can't get hood latch to open!!
IP: Logged
Message:
One thing to be careful of (because my neighbor did it when
helping me open my 1998 Dakota), is to not put the
screwdriver against the plastic grill as a lever point, as you risk
breaking the horizontal grill strip. It's hard to see the break, but
easy to move the end of the broken piece - hope this doesn't
cause problems in the future.
But the good news is that we got the hood open using
disaster's method, so kudos to him!!!
The bad news is the neighbor didn't mention he broke the grill
so don't think I will be asking him for any more help anytime
soon. What a cheeseball!!!
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Hellsbells
Dodge Dakota
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7/17/2021
01:57:58
| RE: Can't get hood latch to open!!
IP: Logged
Message:
1989 dodge Dakota.. Lay on your back on
the ground with a flashlight.. You'll be
able to see the cable and pull when you
look up.. About 3 inches in front of the
safety catch... All you need is a
screwdriver and a flashlight.
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Joe Kubinec
Dodge Dakota
JOIN HERE
10/15/2022
17:03:05
| RE: Can't get hood latch to open!!
IP: Logged
Message:
disaster... a sincere thank you ... you taking the
time to post your solution saved me a ton of time.
I wish you the best!
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