Mitsubishi Mirage Open Hood
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Need to open the hood of your Mitsubishi Mirage? This step-by-step guide will walk you through how to open it up. Are you more of a visual learner? Follow along with our video guide below!
At a Glance
- Pull the hood release lever low on the driver side, near the door.
- At the front, find the safety latch in the gap above the grille and slide it to release the hood.
- Hold the hood open with the prop rod and seat its tip in the marked slot.
- To close, lower the hood to about 12 inches and let it drop; do not push down on the middle of the hood.
- If the lever feels loose and nothing happens, the release cable has likely stretched or come off.
Procedure
- Unlock the vehicle and locate the hood release lever inside the front driver’s side door. Pull the lever to open it.
- Once the hood pops up, go to the front of the vehicle and find the hood latch.
- Then, unlock the latch by sliding it to the left.
- Once the latch is unlocked, pull up the hood and locate the hood prop rod on the passenger side of the engine compartment. Use the prop rod to secure the hood open. Give your hood a little wiggle to make sure it is secure before doing any work under the hood.
Use the prop rod to secure the hood open. Give your hood a little wiggle to make sure it is secure before doing any work under the hood.
Now that your hood is open, you can check oil and coolant levels, and make sure your engine air filter is clean!
If the release lever pulls but the hood stays shut
This is almost always the cable, not the latch. Over the years the cable stretches or the outer sheath corrodes, so the lever moves freely with no resistance and nothing happens at the front. Have someone hold the release lever pulled while you push down firmly on the hood above the latch and then let go, which often gives the mechanism enough movement to let go. If the lever feels completely slack, the cable has snapped at one end and needs replacing.
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A frozen or seized latch in winter
Water sits in the latch and freezes, and the lever then feels normal but the catch will not move. Warm water poured over the latch area will usually free it. Once it is open, work some white lithium grease or a light penetrating oil into the latch and the exposed cable ends, because a latch that sticks once will keep doing it and the cable is what eventually breaks from the extra effort.
What a hood open warning on the dash means
Some Mirages have a switch in the latch that tells the car whether the hood is closed. If the warning stays on with the hood firmly shut, the switch or its connector is usually the fault rather than the latch. It matters more than it sounds, because on many cars that signal also disables features and can keep modules awake, which flattens the battery over a few days of standing.
Always check the safety catch is engaged
Drop the hood from about a foot rather than pressing it closed by hand, then pull up on the front edge to confirm it is locked. A hood that is only on the secondary catch looks closed but can lift at speed. If you have to slam it hard to get it to latch, the latch needs adjusting or lubricating rather than more force.
Frequently Asked Questions
My Mirage hood will not close all the way. What now?
Lift it again and check that nothing is in the latch, then drop it from about 12 inches. If it still will not latch, clean and lubricate the latch; a stiff latch is the usual cause.
Can I open the hood if the release cable is broken?
Usually, but it takes patience. Through the grille or from underneath with the splash shield removed, you can reach the latch and pull the cable end or the latch lever with pliers.
How often should I check under the hood?
Check the oil, coolant and washer fluid at least once a month and before long trips.
More guides: browse all of our Mitsubishi repair and troubleshooting guides.
