Mystique: hood won't open, battery dead

I believe the ignition needs to be on for the cig lighter to be "live" so to charge through the lighter socket the key would need to be on. I THINK it will work in accessory mode. My wife's car is at work so I can't check right now. (1996)

Thanks! There's no rush :-)

The cable or latch may have rusted. Have somebody pull on the release, while somebody else pulls up (or maybe push/pull up and down) on the hood. Hopefully, this can get the initial latch loose.

It is. They make special chargers that charge through the cigarette lighter.

You should be able to get them at Sprawlmart, Target and similar stores as well as auto parts stores.

Most likely the problem with opening the hood is that the latch is rusted.

Jeff

OK, just checked my wife's car and it is FTL (full time live), not switched, so charging through the lighter plug will work - but maximum

Great! My uncle, an electrical engineer and amateur mechanic, is rigging something up as we speak. Thanks!

I can hear some play when someone pulls the release, so that's probably it. I will try shooting some WD40 through the grille, as well as Andrew's suggestion, though that hood is down pretty tight. Thanks! Toni

There are better penetrants than WD40 - and better lubricants too. Everybody has their favourites and I won't start a penentrant war by recommending any specific one (which may not be available in your area)

Where are you located in this great ice-burg called Canada???

WD40 is good to GET it loose. Once loose, use some good grease or whatever Ford specifies for permanent lubrication. WD40 is not really designed to be a lubricant.

Apparently it is designed to be a lubricant:

I'm in Toronto...not TOO cold, and not too much snow :-) Today is a balmy -5 C

My uncle came over today while I was at work and charged through the cigarette lighter. He's a handy guy to have around :-) So even if I don't manage to get the hood open, at least I can drive it to my mechanic. It saved me having to push the car out of the driveway to get a tow.

I'll try it to loosen. Hope I can hit the latch!

I'm 100Km west in Waterloo

I hope someone checked and filled the tires.

Jeff

Yes, uncle did that too. Engineers have the best gadgets! In the end, couldn't get latch open, so it was taken to the mechanic. apparently the cable had corroded, and thus was replaced at a cost of $160. Yikes! Then a new set of tires, too :-) That car is heading for Florida on Sunday.