hood latch problem fixed-almost
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Jul 2015
Posts: 1,765
Likes: 254
From: Catlett VA
hood latch problem fixed-almost
Thought I fixed the problem of the right side hood latch popping open when going over bumps in road. Had previously re-aligned everything without success. Also added second return spring on latch- no success. Frustrating part is that I can pull, bang on it, rattle it and try every way to make it release when I am standing next to the car swearing at it and it holds like it is welded shut. This time I loosened the tension by increasing the length of the male part of the latch. Less spring force to make it release- less chance it would release, so I thought. I drove it yesterday for over a half hour without it releasing and was patting myself on the back until I leaned the car slightly going into a corner with some speed. Crap! Up it popped. Guess I'll try to find some Rally Red duct tape. Any suggestions appreciated. RA
Pro
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 695
Likes: 55
From: Palm Desert California
Hey Ronarndt, by reading previous posts I know you have had a lot for trouble with this and have tried about everything. I had same problem with the pass side popping up. This maybe oversimplifying your problem but this is what I found. The hole in the passenger side latch on the hood was about a 1/16 inch larger than the driver side hole measuring from the stationary part of he latch down to the part of the latch that moves(striker ?) when you pull the hood release. This was not allowing the hood latch to securely catch the male teepee thus allowing the hood to pop up under certain conditions. Being there is no cable adjustment on the pass side I went to the driver side and lengthened the travel of the cable allowing it to let the striker (I think it's called) to close up just a bit making the hole just a little smaller. This worked for me. Why it got out of whack is a mystery. My car is a '73 BTW, hope this helps.
Racer
Joined: Nov 2014
Posts: 463
Likes: 129
Thought I fixed the problem of the right side hood latch popping open when going over bumps in road. Had previously re-aligned everything without success. Also added second return spring on latch- no success. Frustrating part is that I can pull, bang on it, rattle it and try every way to make it release when I am standing next to the car swearing at it and it holds like it is welded shut. This time I loosened the tension by increasing the length of the male part of the latch. Less spring force to make it release- less chance it would release, so I thought. I drove it yesterday for over a half hour without it releasing and was patting myself on the back until I leaned the car slightly going into a corner with some speed. Crap! Up it popped. Guess I'll try to find some Rally Red duct tape. Any suggestions appreciated. RA
What is the condition of the profile of the tooth on the catch? If you have significant wear on this you could have problems keeping it latched.
John
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Jul 2015
Posts: 1,765
Likes: 254
From: Catlett VA
hood latch
Hey Ronarndt, by reading previous posts I know you have had a lot for trouble with this and have tried about everything. I had same problem with the pass side popping up. This maybe oversimplifying your problem but this is what I found. The hole in the passenger side latch on the hood was about a 1/16 inch larger than the driver side hole measuring from the stationary part of he latch down to the part of the latch that moves(striker ?) when you pull the hood release. This was not allowing the hood latch to securely catch the male teepee thus allowing the hood to pop up under certain conditions. Being there is no cable adjustment on the pass side I went to the driver side and lengthened the travel of the cable allowing it to let the striker (I think it's called) to close up just a bit making the hole just a little smaller. This worked for me. Why it got out of whack is a mystery. My car is a '73 BTW, hope this helps.
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Jul 2015
Posts: 1,765
Likes: 254
From: Catlett VA
John- I was also wondering about that. I looked at the male pin and the bottom edge appears to have a sharp, flat contour. The movable part on the female part of the latch does have some wear, but I'm not sure if it is significant, since it looks like the latch on the left side. I may just order new parts for both. It's perplexing that I can pull, push, rattle the thing and it will not release, but when driving something happens to make it release. RA
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 888
Likes: 50
From: Oklahoma City Oklahoma
I have the same issue with the right side of the hood. Iintally it was hard to open. I adjusted the bottom probe and it's much better. It will still pop open for a few days after I open the hood. After a few days it seems to stay closed. I'm thinking the clip part of the latch does not fully extend.
