Are you worried because your car hood won’t close? Well, you should be. A hood (car) latch that won’t close can be dangerous. It can cause serious accidents.
That is why we show you how to fix a hood latch that won’t close. Taking the appropriate measures for your safety should always be a priority.
How To Fix A Hood Latch That Won’t Close
The Most Common Cause
If your complaint is “my hood won’t close all the way,” then it is likely that corrosion is the culprit of this type of issue for your vehicles. It is the number one cause of this problem.
This might be the reason why your Prius hood latch won’t open. The build-up of debris and corrosion makes it difficult for you to close your hood.
Driving with a faulty part is not safe for you. And it can damage the inner machines of your car.
Problematic latches make the pull release handle of the hood and get stuck in an open position. Neglect or poor maintenance can result in rust forming and accumulating.
If you know about mechanical engineering, you may notice that the hood latch includes a lock and a safety catch.
The function of the lock is very self-explanatory. It locks or keeps the hood closed. The other component, the safety catch, helps prevent the hood from flying open if the lock fails.
Solutions
Corrosion has negative effects on both the lock and the safety catch. This means you cannot just let the problem stay untreated.
There is a decent way to turn this around. You can use penetrating oil like WD40. It is better if you apply a lot of it.
Then coat the area with white lithium grease. This second step is for protection against further corrosion.
A much quicker solution is to reset the release handle. While standing outside the open car door, try pulling on the release handle using your right hand.
With an open-palmed left hand, you need to slap the hood hard. Though it is not a permanent fix, it should allow you to lock the hood of your vehicle.
Other Possible Causes And Solutions
That the hood won’t latch shut has other possible causes, though these next ones are less common.
These include bad cable, misplaced stops, wrong alignment, and damaged handle or latch.
The fraying of the cable can explain why the Subaru hood latch won’t close. Checking for this requires you to remove the cable from the latch.
Then try to look for any sign of fraying or binding in the cable.
Another cause of “Toyota corolla hood latch problems” can be that you set the rubber stops on the hood too high up.
It prevents the striker from meeting the latch at the right place. Turning them clockwise can help lower the stops.
A wrong alignment can also make it difficult for you and your car. The mechanism of the latch is fitted to the slam pane.
But its position is adjustable on both the vertical axis and horizontal axes. So try checking if the latch is meeting the striker. Then you can adjust it.
Damaged or broken handles are another possible cause. The plastic pull handle assemblies may wear out and become stuck in the pulled position.
If this is the case, look for broken assembly components for replacement.
A faulty latch can also be problematic. The hood won’t close after accident due to damage to the latch. Please check if there are any bent or damaged springs or levers.
How To Maintain Plus Apply Latch Lubrication
Preparation
The tool that works best for cleaning is a small wire brush. Although this is true in most cases, some cars with different technology don’t provide access to wire brushes.
Having some insight into your vehicle technology can help a lot. After you are done brushing debris, dust, and rust away, you now can lube the hood lock. You should use penetrating oil like WD40.
Step-by-step Lubrication Guide
Suppose your Toyota Camry hood won’t latch because of corrosion. One way to deal with this is lubrication. The optimal lubrication to use is penetrating oils such as WD40.
Step 1: If you have access to the latch, try removing all the rust and debris before oiling.
Step 2: Then you need to grab the WD40 and spray on the part using the straw. The parts you need to focus on are the pivots.
Step 3: If you can, try to move the release lever over and back. If not, find someone to help pull and reset the hood release. You might need to repeat this many times.
Step 4: You need to use a screwdriver to lock the latch. Continue this process again and again until it becomes smooth.
Step 5: You can now attend to the safety catch or hook. First, you would want to spray WD40 around the pivot of the catch.
Then, you need to make sure that it can move freely. Plus, the return spring needs to pull on it with the right amount of force.
Prevention
For a preventative measure, you can opt to use white lithium grease. Applying it to the moving parts helps fight corrosion.
White lithium grease helps reduce the friction of metal-to-metal contact. Also, it is great at repelling moisture.
Frequently Ask Questions
Can You Drive With A Broken Hood Latch?
It’s possible to drive with a broken one. Doing so is not even illegal in a lot of places. However, we do not recommend you do so as it poses a significant risk for your safety.
It is better to fix your latch or even remove it. Driving with an unreliable part is dangerous, almost like driving with a broken wheel stud.
An example of this: Toyota highlander hood latch problems can distract and hinder your vision on the road. This makes accidents more likely to happen.
And the engine and disc brake will be more prone to damage from the outside. You cannot park your car, or worse, you can lose control of your car. Therefore, you should avoid driving with a broken one.
How Much Does A Hood Latch Replacement Cost?
Like any other manufactured goods, the latch of your car’s hood is replaceable. If you can’t fix it, it will be better for a new replacement. The average cost is around $220.
But “Where can I get my hood latch fixed?” is a good question to ask. You can fix it at home yourself if you have the necessary equipment.
Or you can take your car to a mechanic. Depending on where you fix it, prices can vary anywhere between $90 and $350.
How Does Your Hood Latch Work?
The systems begin with a release handle. You can find it on the left side of the driver’s area. The handle is connected to an insulated cable. This cable runs towards the front of the car.
The other side of the cable is linked to a latch under the hood. This latch keeps the hood flush against the vehicle’s body.
It will disengage the latch when it pulls onto the interior release handle, thus opening the hood a few inches.
After the latch becomes disengaged and the hood opens a little, a safety hook or catch has the task of stopping the hood from opening fully.
You will then have to reach under your car’s hood. You would want to feel around to look for a manual release lever. Then try to release the safety hook.
The exact location of the release lever varies from vehicle to vehicle but tends to be towards the center of the car. You need to pull the safety catch’s manual release to lift the hood up.
Conclusion
In conclusion, knowing how to fix a hood latch that won’t close is important in keeping you safe. It is also helpful in keeping your vehicle in optimal conditions. We hope you find this post informative and useful and that you were able to fix up your car’s part.