Opening Hood and Trunk for battery access

[joergheck]

What possibilities are there to quickly open the hood or the trunk of a car after an serve accident to access the battery for shutdown? Spreader, ...?

Thank you for your input

[MetalMedic]

There was a similar discussion about this a while back on here... but since I don't have time to look for it, I will repeat the neat method I have learned for gaining access to the battery.

Using a halligan tool, drive the spike end into the corner of the hood about a foot from where the battery is located. Then pull the bar back toward the passenger compartment. The spike will lift up the entire corner of the hood to give you access to the area beneath it.

[kbud]

Several options depending on what equipment you have available. Start with the obvious, pulling the hood release or using the ignition key to open the trunk. If you remove some material at the front of the engine compartment grill area, you can sometimes snare the hood release cable with the forked end of the haligan and rotate the tool to spring the latch. I've used the method MetalMedic describes many times, be cautious though of where you drive that haligan point through the hood- very easy to puncture the battery housing itself.
A recip saw/air chisel works as well for removing hood sections or attacking the hood hinges. A hilift jack operated between the front/rear bumpers and what your trying to move: hood/trunk functions much like a spreader would.
My favorite though is a combination cutter/spreader. We carry combi tools preconnected to their power units on our medic units. Spread till you can access what's keeping you out and cut the locking latch. One person can handle in a short amount of time and doesn't tie up your full size tools which can be better employed doing other jobs.

[HVFDFC]

A couple of our members were at an extrication course two weekends ago. I went to observe and look over the new tools and gadgets. On one of the scenarios, I saw the crew remove the hood with a pry axe and a bolt cutter. The lifted the corners by the hinges on the hood, and cut them with the bolt cutters.

I have not tried it on my own, but it appeared to work pretty slick. The team was into the engine compartment in under 30 seconds.

[MetalMedic]

I am learning a couple new ideas... great replies gang! A word of caution when cutting away pieces of the hood or trunk. Be aware of the potential to have pressurized piston units to assist with lifting and holding open these components. If your cuts release these with no weight to lift, they may violently expand carrying sharp edges with them.

[ 09-05-2001: Message edited by: MetalMedic ]