Hi, This old Pontiac 6000LE runs perfect
but now I cant open the hood, as the
cable broke.
Is there a way to open it from the front?
I have been going crazy as I gotta get to
the battery to charge it...
Any suggestion will be appreciated.
Thanks, Eric. Kalapos (AT) webtv (DOT) net

I don't know if this will work, but I'll mention it anyway. My 1988 Pontiac
6000 (2.5L with 125k miles - garnet red) on occasion although not
frequently, the hood will not loosen up when I pull the hood release. What
I do is get a long flat-head screw driver and stick under the front of the
hood where the lever is to open the hood. (Slightly to the left of the
center when you're looking at the front if it's located the same place mine
is.) When I do this, I can normally get it to pop loose so I can open it
up.

Nice to see your's runs great because mine does not. I'll trade you. ; )

Current problems with my 6000 - Current blue book value (approximate):
$400 - fair condition (in its defense it's old and has the 2.5):
Fuel pump problems I suspect - it does not like to start when the gas gauge
is below 3/4, especially when warm/hot
Does not start below 0 F (probably my fault because I have 10-W-40 oil in
it)
Minor antifreeze leak I suspect - I can smell it but don't see any leaks and
the antifreeze level doesn't seem to drop much
Minor tranny fluid leak when it gets very cold (probably due to old seals)
Loose muffler - using bailing wire to keep it fairly tight temporarily
Stalling when you press on the gas sometimes, especially when you steer all
the way and press the gas. (Does it more in the cold)
Tires cracked
A/C does not work - was told it would not be worth fixing
Struts wore out
Seat belts wore out
Cruise does not work
Water leaks in when it rains - tried to seal it several times to no avail
Oil leak (blew valve cover gasket twice, then over a year, it even went
through our silicon that we used to seal it)
....And still better than my Dad's '96 Blazer that has had pretty much
everything replaced in it. The only thing pretty much that hasn't been
replaced is the interior, exterior, and the tranny. Just about everything
else has gone out in it.
I think there are a few others that I'm missing, but they're probably little
pointless things anyway.
<kalapos (AT) webtv (DOT) net> wrote

Greetings:
We too have a 6000le (Wagon, 87) and I have seen this prob on a lot of
vehicles. The cable can and does strech, or will flat out break
somewhere within the cable sheath, where you can't see it. One ole
redneck solution I've seen, and used, is a pair of vice grips. If you
can find a location of cable where you can get at it, pull the inner,
(steel cable, not plastic covering) using the vicegrips. I just leave
the small pair of vicegrips permantly locked on to the end of the cable
where it broke off when that was inside passenger compartment. It will
often break near stress points, attachment points. And one of the most
common is right under the dash. If so, you are lucky, just grab ahold
of the broken end of wire, (cable) and PULL! It will more likely than
not pop the hood. If, on the other hand, the break is someplace else,
you are gonna have to work a little harder to get at it. Once you DO
get it open, by whatever means, you have two choices: FIX it, (the
right way) OR the REDNECK way... IE: The cheap pair of (off brand)
vicegrips. Then find, and/or run the broken end of cable to someplace
you can keep the vicegrips, and can get to when you need to. Not
elegant solution, true. Who said rednecks are elegant? (Heck, we cain't
even spell elegant!)
If worst comes to worst, you may need to pop hood some other way, and
replace the existing cable with a wire of some sort that you can pull
later to open. A cheap 'choke/throttle' cable meant for replacment on
lawnmowers can serve, if it's long enough to reach. Use the one you
took off your lawn mower's safety stop deal. You know, the one that
keeps stopping the motor everytime you have to stop to pick up a stick.
I know that about 50% of people disable or remove that one, and it's
better quality that the throttle cable on same lawnmower is 99% of the
time! Look around, someone has one of those laying around. I have 4 or
5 myself. (Salvaged, not from MY mower! My kids use it)
Good luck:
Junkman

kalapos (AT) webtv (DOT) net wrote: