I just picked up a 99 SAN and the engine compartment cover (v-drive) wont open. Is there some kind of trick to opening these? There arent any latches or anything that I can see and I feel like if I lift up any harder I'm going to break something.
Glad you figured it out and didn't do any prying on the deck lid. Remember too, unless you have the second battery in the bow, the battery is back there as well. If it ever goes dead, you have to take out the back seat to get to the battery.
You can't pull the lid hinge pins if the battery dies? You can on the older Malibu VLX's. I always hated the power lift. I changed mine to gas springs and a latch a few years ago, and it is MUCH better.
I gotta ask - you bought a boat without looking at the motor?