2023 LE FWD - For some reason whenever I pull the hood release lever, the hood does not fully unlatch like it's supposed to. It partially releases so that I have to squeeze my fingers under it in order to access the lever under the hood. Anyone else have this problem or any ideas how to fix it? I've gotten a little look at the latch mechanism but not fully sure how it operates.
Update: I walked outside right after posting in order to video the issue. For some reason, it worked for the first time since I bought it last week. No idea why.....
It's a safety feature for all hood release latches. They never fully release the hood, just allow enough release so you can get your fingers in there and mechanically release the hood. If they fully released the hood and you pulled the release lever from inside the cab while driving down the road, the hood would be violently opened by the wind as you drive down the road. imagine how that would block forward vision and reshape the hood.
The issue was that it wouldn't pop up at all. I had to pry my fingers under the hood to get it to initially release so that I could access the lever to fully release. I understand what you said is how its supposed to work, however I think I'm not explaining what was happening very well. When I said that the latch wasn't fully releasing after pulling the interior lever, I meant that the hood wouldn't pop at all. It looked as if I hadn't done anything at all. I had to pry my fingers into the 1-2mm space between the hood and the fender to fully release the first latch and get the hood to pop that first inch or so, so that I could access the lever to fully open the hood. Does that explain it? Like I said, I tried to get it on video, but then It decided to work correctly...
Haven't watched the video, but mine will stick down to the rubber weatherstrips sometimes if it has been a while since I last rubbed some Shin Etsu grease on them.
Yes. Though the more I work it, the more I think @ChapmanF has it right with the weatherstrip suggestion. If I close the hood lightly, it seems to work better on the next go, though this is only looking at it for a few minutes. I can't say anything for certain.
Dealership could have a free look, it’s still covered by the stem-to-stern warranty? Or is that just crazy talk nowadays?
Gen 4's are also notorious for this. The hood release on my 2020 rarely works unless I gently wedge something soft, like the thin side of a matchbook into the gap to provide a slight bit of upward pressure on the latch. A second person's finger tip will also work. I never bothered to have Toyota look at it - all they'll do is replace the latch - and I've read that there's a high probability of the replacement latch doing the same thing. And I hate other people fondling my car. If that's our glitch for this mission....it's a good trip.
