So, you're new to your Cruze, or new to DIY'ing on your Cruze. Need to do something like add windshield washer fluid or check the oil? First, you need to get that hood open!
DISCLAIMER: This how-to is provided for informational purposes only. Neither I nor CruzeTalk have any responsibility or liability for any injury or damages resulting from following this how-to.
Tools needed:
Two hands
Optional: a set of gloves
Step 0: Unlock and open the driver's side door.
Step 1: locate the hood open latch. It's under the driver's side of the dashboard, to the left of the brake pedal. In the picture below, it's the piece of plastic with the car symbol on it.
To open the hood, slide your fingers behind and firmly pull out. The handle will swing up and stop. Stop pulling on it once it stops. While you're pulling, you'll hear a faint "pop" coming from the front of the car. That's the latch releasing the hood, and is perfectly normal. Don't panic, nothing's broken!
Step 2: Move to the front of the car. Turn to face the windshield. To open the hood, you will need to feel around for a small square tab underneath the hood. Place your hand underneath the hood immediately to the left of the line in the hood.
This is the tab you're feeling for:
Next, move your hand slightly to the right. You should feel the tab. Press on it, as in the photo:
While pressing on the tab, take your free hand, slide it under the hood, and lift the hood up. Careful, it's heavier than it looks! Keep holding the hood up with one hand while your other hand goes about freeing the prop rod that will keep the hood open with no hands.
This is the prop rod you're looking for:
It swings up and to the left to a plastic-lined slot in the hood:
While you're holding the hood open with one hand, grab the prop rod with the other, free it with a gentle upward tug, and swing it up to slip into that plastic slot in the hood, like so:
There you go! The hood's open, and won't fall down on you while inspecting the engine.
To close the hood, follow these directions in reverse.
