How to open the hood?

Don't mean to get laughed at...this is my first vehicle and I have never opened the hood before. I found the release latch, and stuck my hand under the center of the hood and feel a little lever, but I don't know which way to twist it and how hard...don't want to break anything. Thanks. Manual wasn't helpful

 

Push the lever to the side under the hood and pull the hood up

 

To add to this.... I believe it needs to be pushed to left when facing the truck.

 

Step 1:


Step 2:
Find lever in middle of hood


Step 3:
Move lever to the left



Step 4:

Lift hood

 

Couldn't remember which way but it really can only be pushed to one side. The other way it doesnt move.

 

Man oh man are you lucky to have a 3rd gen tacoma as your first vehicle. Mine was a 1990 Jeep Cherokee with 190,000 miles on it and the hood COULDN'T open because the cables rusted and snapped!

 

Experiment til you get it. It doesn’t take much force, so if it isn’t releasing, try another way.

 

As they say with heeps. If its broke and it doesn't fix itself, you don't need to worry about it.

 

I cant get it to open. I am pushing the lever left until i get resistance while pulling up on the hood, but nothing. How hard to push the lever?

 

Once you have lifted the hood, with one hand grab the hood holder (long rod looking thing ) pull it up and the slide the hooked end into the small hole

 

It's funny how true this is. I had a 1991 Jeep YJ as my first car (4-banger) and then a 2000 Jeep XJ as my last vehicle before the Tacoma. I would constantly get "problems" that would somehow right themselves and then never be seen again. Worked great for me as a broke college student.

 

Maybe you are pulling to hard on the hood while trying to push the latch. Just lift a little and slide your hand in

 

Success!!! Thanks all

 

It takes very little pressure and only moves like 2.5 inches to the left




Here is what the lever looks like

 

Dear Journal,

I did something nice today.

 

Bounce the hood a small bit up and down as you move lever to left. It does have a small indent.

 

Now get back to business as usual and start busting chops.

 

Lot of mud under the hood from my light offroading, should i be cleaning under the hood?