hood keeps popping
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 5,447
Likes: 3
From: Syracuse NY
hood keeps popping
How do you adjust the hood latches.
I close my hood, everything lines up nice, then after a short time it'll pop open. Sometimes it's after hitting a little bump other times it'll just pop open on it's own.
Can anybody tell me how to keep the damn thing closed?
Rick
I close my hood, everything lines up nice, then after a short time it'll pop open. Sometimes it's after hitting a little bump other times it'll just pop open on it's own.
Can anybody tell me how to keep the damn thing closed?
Rick
Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 5,427
Likes: 1
From: Tracy California
Originally Posted by DZRick
How do you adjust the hood latches.
I close my hood, everything lines up nice, then after a short time it'll pop open. Sometimes it's after hitting a little bump other times it'll just pop open on it's own.
Can anybody tell me how to keep the damn thing closed?
Rick
I close my hood, everything lines up nice, then after a short time it'll pop open. Sometimes it's after hitting a little bump other times it'll just pop open on it's own.
Can anybody tell me how to keep the damn thing closed?
Rick
sometimes before you close the hood, push the hood release lever forward (from the drivers seat), so that it opens properly. THe locking lever mechanism near the springs might be losing the spring that pulls it back in place, or it might be worn out.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 2,606
Likes: 5
I had the same problem (still do, but not as frequent).
I don't remember how I fixed it (early on-set Alzheimers), but if you do an archived for search for "hood" and "latch", you'll find a very detailed post with a fix by a knowledgable member.
I don't remember how I fixed it (early on-set Alzheimers), but if you do an archived for search for "hood" and "latch", you'll find a very detailed post with a fix by a knowledgable member.
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 1999
Posts: 26,545
Likes: 46
From: Huntersville NC
I took off the hood latches to shine em up, then when I put them back on the hood wouldn't stay closed. I carried a socket wrench in the car. Every time the hood popped up I would move the latches very slightly. I must have adjusted them 20 or 30 times until I finally found the sweet spot where it stays closed. Now I won't touch the darn things!!! 
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 5,447
Likes: 3
From: Syracuse NY
Originally Posted by E_Tar
when you close it , do you press down on either side of the hood ends near the windshield and do you hear a click..click..click sound ?
This is on a 68.
I'll try a search.
Thanks for the suggestions and info guys,
Rick
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 8,339
Likes: 24
From: I can walk to MA
If BOTH sides pop up, there is likely a problem with the release cable or
the mechanism/spring that it attaches to at the firewall.
68 and early 69 were unique in that they look like the same type as
70-77 but have a smaller latch head (piece on firewall). I'm not sure
but maybe this is a reason they made them larger in subsequent years.
Look at the hood latch. You can see the piece that slides sideways when
the release cable is pulled. If trying to adjust, I would move in very
small increments and move the bottom pin so that it engages further
with the moving latch piece. Like Jughead said ... very small increments
or you will be posting how to open a stuck hood.
As a first step, try slowly lowering the hood and "eyeballing" how the
latch will mate with the pins. Starting with them on-center with the
latch openings is the best place to start. Be sure to check front to back
and side to side alignment.
Good luck
the mechanism/spring that it attaches to at the firewall.
68 and early 69 were unique in that they look like the same type as
70-77 but have a smaller latch head (piece on firewall). I'm not sure
but maybe this is a reason they made them larger in subsequent years.
Look at the hood latch. You can see the piece that slides sideways when
the release cable is pulled. If trying to adjust, I would move in very
small increments and move the bottom pin so that it engages further
with the moving latch piece. Like Jughead said ... very small increments
or you will be posting how to open a stuck hood.
As a first step, try slowly lowering the hood and "eyeballing" how the
latch will mate with the pins. Starting with them on-center with the
latch openings is the best place to start. Be sure to check front to back
and side to side alignment.
Good luck
