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You Should Know This About Your Hood Hinge & Latch

What Is Hood Hinge & Latch?

A hood latch would be a very simple constituent. It is the fastener which would keep the car hood shut. This latch would then ensure that the hood would be connected securely to the automobile and that it would not pop open in an unexpected manner. Now if your stock hood latch would be busted up, then the car hood might start bouncing up and down when you drive on the roads which are rough. There are some bad circumstances, where a broken latch might leave you with a hood which cannot be closed shut. Now you must be thinking that how can one drive with a huge hood panel which would cover your view? So, if you would need great engine protection, accessibility as well as usage, then it is essential to make sure that you have a working hood latch.

Where is Hood Hinge & Latch located?

The car hood is opened up by pulling the lever or handle which is generally situated at the lower left side of dash on the driver's side. It would then pull the hood release cable, which would then make the latch mechanism on its other end to release its hold on the hood.

Types Of Hood Hinge & Latch

Are you searching for the different types of hood hinge & latch? Then don’t worry! All you have to do is to have a look below and then all your doubts regarding its types would be cleared.

 

Types of hood latches include

 

  • Rubber-pull type
  • Spring-loaded
  • Spring-pull type single
  • Single horn & fulcrum action hood latches

How Do Hood Hinge & Latch Work?

Are you searching how do the hood hinge & latch actually work? Then all you have to do is to have a look below and then you will be able to understand everything.

 

The mechanism of the hood latch in an automobile is very simple. There are a lot of cars which would be manufactured with same hood release systems, but they are designed individually for every make as well as model. It would mean that even if all of them would perform in a similar manner, they won’t be uninstalled from one make and model and would be then reinstalled in another make and model. The overall concept of the mechanism would be the same, but there would be a difference in the schematics and design of the hood latch system of every automobile. This system would start inside the compartment of the automobile. The hood release handle would be generally situated on the driver's side. It is the hood release handle which would attach to the cable and then it would route through the dashboard towards the front of the automobile. The other end of the cable would then be attached to a secondary latch, which would be manipulated by the pulling of the cable. There would be the requirement of just an inch or two so that the secondary latch can be pulled away from its position, and then the car hood would pop open. A safety latch would retain the hood at the front of the automobile. if you would locate as well as release the safety latch, then it would release its hold on the hood and then the car hood would be allowed to open up.

 

Components of a Hood Latch System - The hood release handle which would be inside the automobile is generally made of plastic and then it would be attached directly to the hood latch cable. There would be a protective outer lining in a cable which would prevent the corrosion of the cable where it would be exposed to the elements. The cable is designed in such a way that it can move inside the lining back as well as forth so that the pulling can be accommodated as well as releasing motion of the handle and the secondary latch. The opposite end of the cable would be then attached to the secondary latch, which would be generally near the bottom. Now when the tension would be applied to the cable from the hood release handle, then it would pivot the secondary latch, which would pull away from a retaining seat which would be situated under the hood. The secondary latch would then release the hood for a few inches before a safety latch would take it over. The safety latch would be integrated in the hood latch system if there would be an accidental release of the handle inside the compartment of the passenger when the vehicle would be operating. If there would be not safety latch, then the car hood might be susceptible to flying up and then back towards the windshield, which would block the vision of the driver. Then it would also cause a lot of damage to the hood, hood hinges, and the car windshield. There is a release lever in the safety latch which would pivot slightly by moving it, which would then release the safety latch from its seated position of the hood. There are a lot of safety latches which would need to release with no tension on the hood. It would mean that you would have to press the hood down slightly back in the closed position. Now once it would be done, the car hood would be free to open up. There is a prop rod integrated with the automobiles which is used by a lot of hoods. The prop rod would be situated on the upper frame of the front or side rails and would be then attached at the bottom. The upper end of the rod would be held by a small clip. The rod from the clip should be released and then it should be swung upward, and then its seating position should be located on the underside of the hood. There are some other models which would have the prop rod attached to the underside of the hood and then the seating position would be situated on the upper frame rails. High-end vehicles are now utilizing hydraulic hood shocks so that the car hoods can be automatically opened up and then restore the hood prop rod altogether.

Symptoms Of Bad Hood Hinge & Latch

There are a few things which might cause your hood hinge & latch to malfunction. Watch for the following symptoms if you suspect a bad hood hinge & latch:

 

Now if the car hood would not be locked closed all the way when it would be shut firmly, then there might be some defects in the latch. If the car hood would pop open on its own, then it would mean that there are some faults in the latch. One another sign which would indicate that there are some flaws in the hood latch would be that release lever inside the vehicle would be tough to pull or it might not retract all the way after it has been pulled.

Tools Needed For Hood Hinge & Latch

There are a number of skilled auto mechanics who have a goal of opening their own car repair shop at some point in their career. But let’s face it; if you want to put up an efficient as well as profit making shop, then you might need much more than mechanical skills. There are a number of tools which you might need to perform the car repairs quickly as well as reliably. Auto repair equipment that you will need to repair your Hood Hinge & Latch may include:


Top Brands For Hood Hinge & Latch

If customers trust a brand, then it would make them loyal, and if they are loyal, then they will surely buy more. We are well aware that customers want comfort, cheerfulness as well as satisfaction in their lives and that’s the reason why we offer top quality auto parts brands to our customers. We make sure to provide a positive experience to our consumers from the brands which we are offering so that they can form an opinion that a particular auto parts brand is trustworthy and would give them peace of mind while they are purchasing it for their car. Here we have listed out some top brands for Hood Hinge & Latch.

 

Various Manufacturers Hood Hinge & Latch

Auto 7 Hood Hinge & Latch

Rampage Products Hood Hinge & Latch

Dorman (Oe Solutions) Hood Hinge & Latch

Rugged Ridge Hood Hinge & Latch

Crown Automotive Jeep Replacement Hood Hinge & Latch

Total System Costs & Repair Times, Effort Of Hood Hinge & Latch

If you are looking for Hood Hinge & Latch Replacement Cost”, Hood Hinge & Latch Replacement Labor Cost”, “Average Cost Of Hood Hinge & Latch Swap” or “How Much Does It Cost To Replace A Car Hood Hinge & Latch”, then keep on reading further! If you are seeing blown *Hood Hinge & Latch* signs from your vehicle, then it means that a repair bill is coming. More than other failures on a car, there is nothing that is like a faulty Hood Hinge & Latch. Now if your car Hood Hinge & Latch* goes bad, then it would cause a lot of issues in the functioning of your car and it would turn into an abandoned home. Don’t worry and just think about the happiness when an empty shell would become whole again and much better than it was earlier through quality Hood Hinge & Latch replacement. Keep in mind that the Hood Hinge & Latch replacement cost would depend upon the type of automobile, brand, as well as various other factors. If you want to substitute your hood latch, then it would generally range between $123 and $138. Talking about the work expenses, they would range between $54 and $69 and the parts would be valued somewhere around $69.

How To Change Hood Hinge & Latch?

Now before you get started, just be sure that proper safety precautions have been taken. You can always wear protective gloves and even some work glasses so that you would be safe the entire time. Let’s have a look at some steps to change the car hood hinge and latch:

Step 1

Firstly, the car hood should be opened up and it should be kept propped open. Then the hood latch should be located, which would be near the front of the automobile.

Step 2

Then a wrench should be taken up and it should be utilized to remove the nuts on the sides of your stock latch. You can always utilize a flashlight if you would find some issues in locating the nuts.

Step 3

The spring and cable should then be disconnected from the back of the latch. It would be done by lifting it up and off the latch assembly.

Step 4

The entire latch should be taken out from the automobile and then it should be placed out of your way.

Step 5

The new hood latch should be cleaned off with a piece of cloth so that you can ensure that it would be free from obstructive dust as well as other particles.

Step 6

The replacement hood latch should be inserted in place and just make sure that it has fitted properly and is functioning in the right manner.

Step 7

The hood latch which has been installed newly should be secured by tightening its nuts.

Step 8

It should be tested out by opening and closing your hood, and then you would be all set.

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John Framigllia
Technical Writer
Our technical writer is known for simplifying automotive parts and services. Intuitive with various vehicles and manufacturers, he knows how to simplify complicated problems.