Do you have to push your hood closed?

cd_booth · April 5th, 2012, 11:55

I find that the shock that holds the hood open applies too much force to let the hood be dropped and latch correctly. I have to push my hood closed and would prefer not to.

The owner's manual states that you should be able to lower the hood a few inches above the latch and drop it. Is anyone able to do this?

740GLE · April 5th, 2012, 12:30

Give it a few years those shocks will weaken and won't be able to hold the hood at all!

Just wait for it to happen to your trunk lid as well.

I usually just lower till the safty latch grasps it, then give it a kinda shove to lock it down.

Fixmy59bug · April 5th, 2012, 12:50

It makes me cringe every time I hear someone drop their hood from half way. I don't see the need.

That's how stuff gets broken.

I always set my hood into the secondary latch, then using my finger tips (so as not to dent the hood with my palm) I press the hood into the primary latch.

Then I will grab under the edge of the hood and ttry to pull it back up a couple of times. If it is properly latched, it will not budge.

I have never had a hood come flying up on me doing it this way, I have never had a broken hood latch, and I have never had a dented hood.

cd_booth · April 5th, 2012, 12:58

Good to know that others are doing it. I guess I just always thought it was "car law" to let the hood drop from a few inches and was always able to do it with other cars.

showdown 42 · April 6th, 2012, 05:21

Mine latches shut from 6in up. 2009 JSW

740GLE · April 6th, 2012, 05:53

do you always wing the car door shut, thinking it'll close tighter the hard you pull?

Ski in NC · April 6th, 2012, 06:18

Most cars have little screw bumpers at the fwd corners of hood. Screw them down slightly and hood should latch from a six inch drop. Screw down too much and hood will wiggle when latched.

Not the same as winging doors shut!!

Ol'Rattler · April 6th, 2012, 11:07

Drop it from about a foot..............

cd_booth · April 7th, 2012, 06:42

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ol'Rattler

Drop it from about a foot..............

Trying to drop it higher than 6 inches just makes it drop slower because the shock that holds the hood up engages.

MayorDJQ · April 7th, 2012, 09:48

I've been car enthusiast since I was about 5 years old.

This is not an issue that I've ever worried much about.

40X40 · April 7th, 2012, 10:44

Each car is a little different and each car changes as it ages, but there should be an easily found distance that the hood will reliable latch when dropped from that distance.

It is so ingrained that most of us give it no thought at all.

OP, investigate the possibility that the hinges may be binding or that you have a damaged/incorrect shock.

Bill

TDI_Dan · April 7th, 2012, 11:26

I'm with fixmy.. I set it into the secondary latch and gently press until it latches. I also never slam doors on any of my vehicles nor friends vehicles. Newer models don't need it. My 2003 GM was arranged as such that I just let go of the door and it would close on its own. Same with trunks. Finger tips on the bottom edge of the glass. If the car has a spoiler, I never touch it while closing the trunk or otherwise. I had a friend who would slam his corvette hood (and doors) in the winter. Made me sick.

cd_booth · April 8th, 2012, 18:40

Well I definitely cannot drop it from any height for it to latch without applying more force. Either I can push the hood closed from a few inches or I can lower it gently and push it closed. It sounds like the shocks for my hood are stronger than others.

DPM · April 8th, 2012, 23:52

or the hinges are seized, as Bill mentioned above...