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Car Hoods, what is the easiest way to open melted car hood?
We've all come upon car fires that the latch on the front of the hood is melted and apart from giving the hood a good yank (which sometimes works) what is the easiest way to open it?
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Paul Montpetit on
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"easiest"way is a K-12 saw or jaws...most practical is with a haligan bar and some effort.....practice this in training then you won't have to ask when it happens....and, yes, it WILL happen....(Murphy is around every corner)...Stay safe and always remember to Keep the Faith....Paul
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Permalink Reply by Trainer on
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I’m not sure there is an easy way. We have a “special tool” 12in (ok get your mind out of the gutter) T handle with a notch at the other end; idea here is to hook what is left of the cable and twist it till it pops. It works about 75% of the time, haligan never fails.
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Permalink Reply by Tom Lambui on
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FIRST : Always be mindful of approaching the engine compartment from the front of vehicle. Watchout for hood pistons being discharged from heat (Some have been found many yards away. Also be careful of the shock absorbers built into the front AND rear bumpers. Even standing on the side of the vehicle can be dangerous. These bumpers have been known to hinge to one side or another upon releasing.
Conventional way : Flat head ax and halligan, fork end in.
Partner/K-12 saw with forcible entry blade. Roof blade will work also. Make pie cut in hood with the point towards the windshield, cut wide enough to cover whole locking mechanism.
1/4" or 3/8" steel rod (threaded or not) with a handle on one end (either wood, or bent from rod itself), and a hook on the other to capture release cable.
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Sorry, but I have to disagree with the wheel well/beneath attack. You dont get enough saturation in that operation, and will be there for an extended period of time. Also fire will burn longer and cause more damage.
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Hey man MVA's occur too....and it might be nice to be able to disable the battery as to kill that source of ignition before you go crawling inside to extricate a patient......car fires are easy...but one thing noone mentioned(me included) is wearing ALL PPE to include an airpack....Paul
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Permalink Reply by Glenn.D.C_15 on
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If you are looking to extinguish, we just peel back one corner and drench the hell out of it. Then for overhaul, we usually use a halligan or pry bar to lift up the hood, or beat the hell out of the latch.
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Permalink Reply by Oldman on
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Depends on where the fire is. If the fire was hot enough to "melt" the latch, then there is a good probability that the hood is toast as well. We always try the hood release inside the passenger compartment if possible. We have a tool which grips the wire for the hood release and twist. But an inverted V cut with a K12 works the fastest. We don't worry about damage. If there is visible flame when the fire department shows up, most all insurance companies total the vehicle. Sometimes us old dogs just like showing old school use of a hooligan.
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Permalink Reply by Andrew Bayless on
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Thanks for the replies ,I didnt exactly mean melted ,just any occasion that the hood latch is deformed to gain access to cut the battery cables.
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Permalink Reply by Ben Waller on
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I agree with damnthing...you don't need to open the hood for an engine compartment fire.
Just punch through a headlight or through the hood sheet metal with a piercing nozzle and let it rip.
If the fire is small, you can punch through the hood with a Halligan pick or a pickhead axe pick and discharge an ABC extinguisher. It's faster than messing around with the hood. Once the fire is out, you can pry the hood open, or pry up a corner and pull the hood release cable with a pair of vise grips.
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Permalink Reply by T.J. on
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Right on with you, as long as you train with it, when it comes to needing to know how, you'll be able to do it.
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Come on guys don’t you want to have any fun, maybe take out some frustration? We always open the hood for 2 reasons, there’s always that pesky smolder and we want to get off the highway ASAP.
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Permalink Reply by Cody W. Nelson on
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I am a big fan of the Irons. Place latch bar or the entire latch mechanism between the forks of the haligan, a couple of good swings from the flat head and twist the hailgan in either direction. Usually works like a charm.
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