Abby update 07-10-2010
Went out to get Abby ready to tow out of the property and get her away from the other part of the tree that is still standing but loose in the ground.
The caretaker, the PO and myself rolled her back, then pushed her to a more accessible spot for a trailer or tow dolly to get her out of there.
Since I had some time as the PO was trying to pack some stuff before they clean up his house fire mess. I decided to try to open the hood and survey the damage under there.
I pulled the hood release and the hood RAISED on the left corner. I then pulled the left side of grille hood release and that side was free. I tried to release the right side lever and it would not release. I went back and tried the inside hood release and then took a MB lug wrench and a BFRH(Big Flippen Rubber Hammer) and used the round end of the lug wrench against the release lever and tapped on the other end with the BFRH and it released.
When the tree fell it forced both hood catches down about 1/4 inch on left side and 1/2 inch on the right so the Radiator support needs to be jacked back into position or cut out and replaced. Hood latches and releases well if you latch the right side only. with the hood tweaked it is a bugger bear to release with both sides latched.
A good look under the hood and a quick oil level check showed no damage under the hood at all other than the rad support. Oil was dirty(big wonder there) but no water in the oil! YEAH for Me and Abby.
Upon further investigation, the heating up(rise and fall, not rise and stay) was more than likely due to the top radiator hose(they are so brittle)connection being broken.as was the overflow nipple. Radiator will be replaced. Water pump didn't need to be pulled, but must be done now to replace gasket. so the Harmonic balancer must be pulled to get the pump out. WP is loose. Oil cooler is OK as it had been removed (still hooked up)and laid sideways in the left front forward wheel well(near headlight).
All in all very little damage to essentials. Also found out that the tree had just fallen on the car about a week before I got her back. No rat damage in the car or under the hood either! It WAS a GOOD DAY!
Hood finally open
From the damaged side. Look, the turn signal bulb is still intact.
First look under the hood.
Closer look.
The hood actually latches on both sides(Gen I sedan are like SEC's), but as it's tweaked it's hard to open with both sides latched, so here she sets awaiting the tow dolly or a trailer.
