Clamshell not unlatching on driver's side

[TORQJNKY]

Yesterday out of the blue, while trying to open the clamshell, the driver's side latch did not unlatch, only the passenger side unlatched. I spoke to BMF about it and apparently there is a plastic sleeve on the cable just before the ball on the latch that may have broken. BMG suggested that I try to pull on the exposed cable in headliner latch release to see if I can take up some of the slack and get it to unlatch, but that didn't work. Any other suggestions on how to get this open/unlatched? I can address the sleeve once it's open, but for now, I'm stuck.

 

[Specracer]

Pull the belly pans and reach up from the bottom with a pry bar or something?

 

[B.M.F.]

Pull the belly pans and reach up from the bottom with a pry bar or something?

Craig and i talked about this last night.. You have the plastic switch cover that does not come off easy... This is going to be an upcoming problem with ALL GT's and i was about to make a post about it. You can not access the passenger side from the bottom due to the dry sump tank... A person does not want to be in this position that is for sure.

Dan

 

[extrap]

Maybe need a backup pull string/cord that hangs down and out around the rear wheel well or thru the belly pans. Then at least you could reach up under and pull it open.

A little bit of a "rig", but better than being stuck.

 

[TORQJNKY]

We talked about this exact thing today. Guess I need to put it on the lift and hope I can get socket on the two switch nuts. Even then, I'm not sure I will be able to get it to release. Picture from today's car show. LOL

 

[69b302]

I have never had the bulkhead panel out on my car, but maybe you could gain access to the release that way. Good luck.

 

[TORQJNKY]

I have never had the bulkhead panel out on my car, but maybe you could gain access to the release that way. Good luck.

That's a great idea. I don't have a supercharger there anymore, so I may have room.

 

[B.M.F.]

We talked about this exact thing today. Guess I need to put it on the lift and hope I can get socket on the two switch nuts. Even then, I'm not sure I will be able to get it to release. Picture from today's car show. LOL

The latch it’s self once the nuts are off has to go up and you’d have to access the 8mm on top to take the 10mm nut off the bottom as they are self locking nuts. Then you’d have to get cable detached from both clam ajar switches. You will be working 3’ below that area and it’s gonna be a project either way. IMO it will be virtually impossible to remove the latch.

Only option I see is you can possible get the drivers side from the bottom but you will wreck the door ajar sensor on the clam latch. The passenger side will be nearly impossible unless you cut the bulk head window out.

 

[B.M.F.]

That's a great idea. I don't have a supercharger there anymore, so I may have room.

That may be an option and be better than going from the bottom. I’ll send you a video

 

[Vincent998]

We talked about this exact thing today. Guess I need to put it on the lift and hope I can get socket on the two switch nuts. Even then, I'm not sure I will be able to get it to release. Picture from today's car show. LOL

Do you have the Workshop Manual? From your description, it sounds like the end of the cable that's in the overhead latch pulled off. The manual (pp 501-14-56 and following) shows three screws holding that plastic assy to the roof. My guess (never having fiddled with that assembly) is that if you take the screws out and remove it you might be able to catch the cable end with a pair of long nose vice grips and then pull on it, hard. If it's the other end that's in the latch that pulled off or broke off, I'm not sure how you can get at it. Keep us posted ...

 

[PeteK]

Can either of you post a picture of what broke/slipped? I want to check mine and see if it's worn, cracked, or otherwise about to fail.

 

[TORQJNKY]

Can either of you post a picture of what broke/slipped? I want to check mine and see if it's worn, cracked, or otherwise about to fail.

This is the part we think broke. One on each side in the latch assembly side under the clamshell.

 

[TORQJNKY]

Do you have the Workshop Manual? From your description, it sounds like the end of the cable that's in the overhead latch pulled off. The manual (pp 501-14-56 and following) shows three screws holding that plastic assy to the roof. My guess (never having fiddled with that assembly) is that if you take the screws out and remove it you might be able to catch the cable end with a pair of long nose vice grips and then pull on it, hard. If it's the other end that's in the latch that pulled off or broke off, I'm not sure how you can get at it. Keep us posted ...

We tried that. It's definitely in the latch under the clamshell.

 

[2112]

Doesn't your car have the GTG lever bar connecting the two latches? I thought I saw it on there when Ed had the car, but that was a long time ago.

If not, I would sure consider having one after you resolve this problem.

 

[extrap]

Doesn't your car have the GTG lever bar connecting the two latches? I thought I saw it on there when Ed had the car, but that was a long time ago.

If not, I would sure consider having one after you resolve this problem.

Sounds like the problem here is the primary latches that are released by the lever in the cabin, rather than the secondary latches the GTG lever releases ... ?

 

[2112]

Sounds like the problem here is the primary latches that are released by the lever in the cabin, rather than the secondary latches the GTG lever releases ... ?

Agreed, but if you could get one side up, the GTG lever would give you a way to unlatch the other side.

 

[B.M.F.]

Agreed, but if you could get one side up, the GTG lever would give you a way to unlatch the other side.

No. The latch won’t release. Not the safety hooks. The gtg single handle safety release won’t help this issue.

You can maybe get the clamshell open 2” on one side with only one latch working. Open your clamshell and then latch one side and you will see.

 

[2112]

OK,

Hopefully this is a super rare occurrence.

 

[Vincent998]

OK,

Hopefully this is a super rare occurrence.

I've looked at both of my latches and see no signs of damage (whew!). But, it also looks as though, assuming the plastic bit is broken, one should be able to pull on the cable from inside the cabin to release the latch even though it might require a very hard pull. It appears that if the plastic fractures it only effectively lengthens the cable by an 1/8-1/4 inch. As long as the ball end is larger than the plastic bit, it wouldn't pull through the latch hook. If for some reason that doesn't work, what about making a pole with a forked end that allows you to push the cable loop near the latch from the left side of the car? It's less than 6 inches from the latch hook.

 

[B.M.F.]

I've looked at both of my latches and see no signs of damage (whew!). But, it also looks as though, assuming the plastic bit is broken, one should be able to pull on the cable from inside the cabin to release the latch even though it might require a very hard pull. It appears that if the plastic fractures it only effectively lengthens the cable by an 1/8-1/4 inch. As long as the ball end is larger than the plastic bit, it wouldn't pull through the latch hook. If for some reason that doesn't work, what about making a pole with a forked end that allows you to push the cable loop near the latch from the left side of the car? It's less than 6 inches from the latch hook.

Even if you pull the handle and grab the wire with a pick or any other tool it will NOT release period if those rubber pieces are broken. Both Craig and I have already done it. As soon as those rubber pieces deteriorate it’s gonna be a bad day.

I’ve got a 2000 mile car here with them bad. now Craigs car.

This is something to be concerned about for the future.