hood latch wire snapped.

[Pat K]

Oh boy. I just pulled my hood release and the hood release wire snapped.

Any way of repairing this without cutting a hole in my hood?

Of course it had to snap before it released.

Help.

[Pat K]

I just found the remedy in my workshop manual. Best $45 I ever spent. Rubber plug in wheel well gets you to the lock.

Amazing.

[Gunslinger]

Very clever these Americans! It's the same with no exterior trunk lock...they left a way to get the trunk unlocked if the cable breaks. They promoted the rear deck access panel as a convenience feature for trunk access but didn't say it was to unlock the trunk if necessary. What the manual doesn't address is how do you get the trunk unlocked if it's packed full of luggage or other items too big to remove through the hatch.

You're absolutely right...the cost of the shop manual (and parts manual) are about the best investment an Avanti owner can make.

[billy]

Did it snap under the dash or under the hood? If under the hood go under the car reach up between the engine & brake booster, grab the cable going to the drivers side latch & push it towards the passenger side. Both latches will open. bill

87 Avanti

[Pat K]

Thanks for your help. I will take your remedies to my mechanic. I am afraid if I ever got under my car, I might never come out.

[SDAvanti]

A decade late but here's hoping... Can you talk me through the rubber plug in the wheel well route? I seem to be having the same issue.

[Bob G]

What workshop manual do you have and where do you order it?

Thanks,

Bob

[Skip Lackie]

I do not have a post-Altman Avanti, but the original 63-64 Avanti shop manual includes instructions for emergency opening of the hood on the earlier models.  Copies are available from many vendors.

Studebaker Vendors Web Site Parts Directory

[Even Kiehl]

Don't know if this will work on Avantis, but on my 57 Tbird I had a thin wire connected in the engine compartment to the latch leading through the firewall rubber gasket and a small handle on the inside of the compartment out of the way and not visible...cheap insurance for what is a pain on those baby Tbirds...