Hood Opening Made Easy

A common problem is a hood will not pop up
after being released from inside.  The problem
usually can be attrubuted to bad front body
mounts or a worn hood counterbalance
assembly. The counter balance assembly is
nothing more than a torsion bar to help counteract
the weight of the hood. You can increase the 
springs tension by first removing the headlights.
Then unbolt the three bolts that hold the assembly
in place.  Take note of bolt placement.  Moving the 
bracket will cause miss alignment of the hood.  While
the bolts are out, place a washer or two between 
the bracket and the torsion bar.  Retighten the 3 bolts
per side.  What this will do is preload the counter weight
and give the bar more resistance thereby  " making " the hood
lighter.
Another method that may be nessesary, is to lubricate the
hood latch and the cable attatchments.  You can use regular
bearing gerase or white lithium grease. This will allow the hood
to open without binding.  Hopefuly you will be able to open your
hood without a screwdriver now.