How to Close the Hood of Your Car

March 4, 2023

how to close hood of car

A car's hood is connected to the rest of the body via a system of hinges and latches. Over time, these parts can deteriorate and stop working properly.

Fortunately, it's easy to fix these issues if you know what to look for. You can either try to solve the issue yourself, or you can take your car to a professional who will repair it for you.

First, examine the hood latch cable to see if it's intact. If it is, lubricate the parts so they can close together easily and securely again.

Another common reason for a hood latch to stick open is rust. Using penetrating oil like WD40 and then a coat of white lithium grease will help to remove the corrosion on the hood latch cable.

Lock Mechanism Failure: If you have tried to lubricate and repair the hood latch but the hood still won't close, your car may have a bad lock mechanism. If it does, you will need to replace the part or bring your vehicle in for service.

Side Latch Problems: If the hood latch does not work but the cable is intact, you will need to examine your car's side latches. These hinge-like parts are attached to the hood latch, and they support most of the weight of the hood when it's closed.

These latches can become broken over time, so it's important to check them before you attempt to tighten them up. If they're bent or pulled back too far into their own positions, it's time to get them replaced.

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Traffic Dave is on a mission to help traffic engineers, transportation planners, and other transportation professionals improve our world.
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