Hood alignment (Page 1/1)
donuteater306 APR 19, 11:08 PM
Not sure what happened, but my hood will no longer sit flush with the fenders when closed. It hadn’t been opened in a couple of weeks, I opened and closed it, and as you can see from the pictures, this is where it sits now. I looked at the latch and it doesn’t appear to have moved…no marks from sliding and the bolts are tight. All of the gaskets are seated properly. I dunno what changed!
Patrick APR 19, 11:41 PM

Simple things first... Did you move something in the spare tire compartment that's now preventing the hood from closing properly?
donuteater306 APR 20, 12:16 AM
No sir. I opened the lid, looked at the coolant bottle, and I closed the lid. I thought that maybe the seal stuck to the bottom when I lifted it, so I checked the seal...it's seated properly.
Patrick APR 20, 12:24 AM

quote
Originally posted by donuteater306:

I thought that maybe the seal stuck to the bottom when I lifted it, so I checked the seal...it's seated properly.



"The seal"? Does that include the two short curved pieces on either side near the windshield?
donuteater306 APR 20, 12:49 AM
Yup, the little end seals as well. So bizarre.
Mike in Sydney APR 20, 01:17 AM
It looks like it isn't latched. Try raising it six inches or so and let it fall. If the catch isn't broken or the spring out of position, the latch should lock the hood down. Before you do this, check that the adjustment stops in the corners near the windscreen are not out of position. Also, check that the hood prop on the left side is OK. I think that if it has come loose, it could be laying in a positon that would prevent the hoos from closing properly. Lastly, check the headlights since there is a slight chance that one could be out of position and possibly holding up the hood.
sleek fiero APR 20, 09:48 AM
Possibly the latch cable is not returning to the latched position and the hood is not locking down.
theogre APR 20, 10:55 AM
Latch or cable can stick open.
Latch Bolts get loose or adjusted wrong and latch won't lock or does lock but too soon or latch moves once locked.

Part that grabs the hook on hood swings down and another part locks that down.

Latch and cable aren't water and dirt proof and will rust and bind.
Worse when have lost the seal on the hood around the hook keeping crap getting at the latch.
(Hood latch is same design as many trunk latches and not made to handle road crap and water in it.)

Also check front/back alignment...
Lower Hinges can bend "pushing" the hood toward the glass.
Hinge bolts may be loose.

When happens, Hood won't open or shut depending when the hood moves because can hit the Anti Guillotine bolts.
If won't shut and you force close then likely won't open again w/o headaches.
At this point you likely won't lock the bolts completely but bolts hitting edge of holes is still a problem.
See https://web.archive.org/web...cast.net/~fierocave/ hood.

------------------
Dr. Ian Malcolm: Yeah, but your scientists were so preoccupied with whether or not they could, they didn't stop to think if they should.
(Jurassic Park)

The Ogre's Fiero Cave

[This message has been edited by theogre (edited 04-20-2023).]

donuteater306 APR 20, 08:41 PM
I'm going to dig deeper into this thing later this eve. I know that it's latching because once it's down I can't lift it. I think it's a single stage latch, unlike the right/left doors. I'm wondering if the latch DID move down a bit which is causing the ends to bow when latched tightly in the center.

I did check the headlamp mechanisms, forward hinges and hood prop. All tight and in their usual spaces. I've had the hood and headlamp assemblies off in the past so my alignment marks are still there. Bolts are tight and everything aligned.

I really appreciate everyones suggestions and recommendations.