Closing the hood
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Jan 2021
Posts: 46
Likes: 32
Closing the hood
So do I have to just let it ''drop'' in order for it to latch? I tried just closing it normally but couldn't get it to latch. Then when I raised it up & just let it fall down on it's own, it shut.
Drifting
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 1,411
Likes: 111
From: Chandler AZ
If I let my hood drop from a foot or so, generally will no latch on the drivers side. So now I make sure my hand pressure is in the middle of the hood & always will close on both sides.
Hope this helps.
Hope this helps.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 7,392
Likes: 216
From: Merritt Island, FL
Agree with JanMan, I have an 04 with the lightweight Carbon Fiber hood so it is a bit lighter than the standard one but I put my hand roughly in the dead center of the hood, as I stand in front of the front bumper, and push it evenly down so that both sides latch. About 10% of the time I still end up with one latch not closed.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 751
Likes: 583
2020 C5 of the Year Winner- Unmodified
OK...still a different method.... I let the hood down easy and push down on each side just over the latch till it clicks. Yea, I walk around to each side, but I know it's latched that way. When I first got the car, the right side actually fluttered a little, so I adjusted the stops so it's nice and snug, but still latches with slight pressure.
Pro
Joined: Apr 2017
Posts: 749
Likes: 242
From: Maryland
I used to gently press each latch, but the only way that I could get both sides to actually latch was if I pressed the passenger side closed first, otherwise it would not latch. Maybe it needed an adjustment, who knows. So now I hold the hood in the center and let it drop from a height of about one foot, and it closes and latches on both sides every time.
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From: Omaha Nebraska
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Burning Brakes
Joined: Mar 2009
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From: GRAYSLAKE IL
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OK...still a different method.... I let the hood down easy and push down on each side just over the latch till it clicks. Yea, I walk around to each side, but I know it's latched that way. When I first got the car, the right side actually fluttered a little, so I adjusted the stops so it's nice and snug, but still latches with slight pressure.
Race Director
Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 12,414
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From: DFW TX
I used to gently press each latch, but the only way that I could get both sides to actually latch was if I pressed the passenger side closed first, otherwise it would not latch. Maybe it needed an adjustment, who knows. So now I hold the hood in the center and let it drop from a height of about one foot, and it closes and latches on both sides every time.
probably overkill but it's my garage queen / nice day driver / toy, it gets treated special
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Yes, about 12” up and let it drop - the hood should latch.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2014
Posts: 870
Likes: 76
From: The Rainy Side of Washington State
If you clean and relube both latches that seems to help.
They do get crudded up from road dirt through the years.
And always open and close it from dead center.
They do get crudded up from road dirt through the years.
And always open and close it from dead center.
Last edited by hron61; Mar 4, 2021 at 05:48 PM.
Instructor
Joined: Dec 2020
Posts: 120
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From: Ankeny, Iowa
Safety Car
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 4,996
Likes: 504
From: Hilton NY
Replacing the old rubber stops that became hard from age with newer soft ones helped a lot too. The pliable rubber allows the hood to sink a little more with less force to latch instead of just hitting a solid stop unless it's slammed.
Last edited by Fast one; Mar 5, 2021 at 10:37 AM.
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 12,861
Likes: 4,664
This method came from my tuner. After he lowers the hood down to the latches, he goes around to each side and pushes them down until they click. Why? He said he has probably opened and closed more Corvette hoods than most owners ever will, and told me he once broke the 'pointed ear' near the windshield of the drivers side off by letting it drop from a foot or foot and a half. Just saying. Personally, I use the push down from the center method as posted. Just sayin'.....
Last edited by grinder11; Mar 5, 2021 at 10:57 AM.