this has got to be the dumbest question ever

Mustangless · Oct 24, 2005

I am not sure, but I think something might be wrong with my hood latch. The lever in the car usually takes a bunch of strength to open. Although 2 times it opened up easily, other times it is really hard to open. Also, the hood has to be slammed sort of hard to close. I almost think I am going to break the latch or something.

Does anyone else have this problem?

CManT1914 · Oct 24, 2005

Mustangless said:
I am not sure, but I think something might be wrong with my hood latch. The lever in the car usually takes a bunch of strength to open. Although 2 times it opened up easily, other times it is really hard to open. Also, the hood has to be slammed sort of hard to close. I almost think I am going to break the latch or something.

Does anyone else have this problem?

Not a dumb question! Mine is rather difficult to open as well. I also need to slam the hood pretty good to get it closed. I think that might be a sign of a cable stretching. I seem to remember reading that somewhere, but I don't know for sure. I guess I wouldn't worry about it as long as it keeps opening, lol.

94MustangGT5.0 · Oct 24, 2005

Ever since my new hood latch ('96+ style so I could use the billet grill) it is a little harder to shut in my car. I have to drop it from a higher point to get it to latch. The cool part about the 96+ latches is that they are spring loaded and actually kick your hood up about 3" or so to get your hand in there to release the button. The stock hood latch just sort of releases the hood, but doesn't really prop it up like the newer style.

chaos254 · Oct 24, 2005

definitely make sure its latching properly...i made the mistake of letting this problem go and before i knew it the hood flew up on me doing 45mph. Luckily it didn't break the windshield but it scared the **** out of me! my hood was destroyed so i bought an aftermarket hood and now run hood pins!

HISSIN50 · Oct 24, 2005

If the latch and set pins (those rubber/plastic dealies that point out of the radiator support. The underside of the hood rests against them) are not in synch, it can lead to issues getting the hood to pop and latch. Make sure the pins are not unscrewed too much (sticking up more) or adjust the latch accordingly.

Good luck.

sage2k · Oct 24, 2005

might just need to oil your latch
when i had my stock hood it was hard to open at times (i think closing was still easy tho)
the latch just needed oiling

mo_dingo · Oct 24, 2005

sage2k said:
might just need to oil your latch
when i had my stock hood it was hard to open at times (i think closing was still easy tho)
the latch just needed oiling

yeah, most definately. Many problems can be solved with a little lube....

But seriously, pop the hood, spray a lot of silicone spray on the mechanism. Then , with the hood up, cycle the latch a few times. Lock it, then unlock it, etc.....do all this w/ the hood up. it would be best to have someone else cycling the latch which you watch it. The cable may need to be adjusted. Check it out.
Scott

SeventyMach1 · Oct 24, 2005

Mustangless said:
this has got to be the dumbest question ever

YEP!!!

J/K man. Not a dumb question at all. I have the EXACT same thing going on with my car .... except I have the Cobra R hood. I'm gonna take heed with some of the advice given here. Lube it up really good & check the adjustment on the stops. I definitely need to invest in some hood pins!

Do you have the stock hood? If not, you should get pins, too. The 2 times that it released easily ..... it could have probably flown open on you going down the road!

hookups333 · Oct 24, 2005

My car also has the cobra r and is hard to close and open. I put lots of wd-40 and it helped it but its still not as easy as my other vehicles.

ROLLIN5.0 · Oct 25, 2005

It sounds like you guys need to raise the latch assembly up a tad. They will creep down over the years, and it makes it harder to open and close.
Brandon

VetteEater · Oct 25, 2005

Like HISSIN50 said Sounds like the bump stops on the radiator support are unscrewed too far out. Just spin them a couple turns clockwise (I think it's clockwise but just spin it the way that the bump stop is going down) and then give it a shot should make a big different. Hope that helps.....

Josh

BlownFiveLiter · Oct 25, 2005

Mine did this, so I packed it with TONS of grease, and opened and closed it repeatedly (around 10ish times), and it's been like brand new ever since.

Nucking Futs · Oct 25, 2005

There are no dumb questions. Just dumb people who ask the questions.

You might need to replace your hood latch cable. I know they say they never wear out well mine did and I have no idea how but it is an easy fix.

94-302-vert · Oct 26, 2005

I had the same problem, I actually had to have someone bounce the hood while I pulled the release lever... My car had been hit and the latch was dragging along the back side of the hood. I out a couple fender washers behind it to space it forward and now it is perfect.

FORCED2DV8 · Oct 26, 2005

Like others said try adjusting the latch, if yo have a stock hood still, there was a recall on the hood part of the latch from ford. at least on the 95 model, take it there and have them do it all for free.

v6v8swap · Oct 26, 2005

FORCED2DV8 said:
Like others said try adjusting the latch, if yo have a stock hood still, there was a recall on the hood part of the latch from ford. at least on the 95 model, take it there and have them do it all for free.

This is correct. They had the recall on the '94's too. I never took mine in since it was working satisfactorily for me. They might be able to shed some light on this problem.

Phil

balderman · Oct 26, 2005

Mustangless said:
I am not sure, but I think something might be wrong with my hood latch. The lever in the car usually takes a bunch of strength to open. Although 2 times it opened up easily, other times it is really hard to open. Also, the hood has to be slammed sort of hard to close. I almost think I am going to break the latch or something.

Does anyone else have this problem?

There is actually a recall on the 94 Mustang for the hood latch. I would check the ford recall site.. I know its there, when I owned my 94 vert I got a letter from Ford about it.

this has got to be the dumbest question ever

Mustangless

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CManT1914

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94MustangGT5.0

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chaos254

HISSIN50

"How long does it take to get help in here?

sage2k

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mo_dingo

SeventyMach1

Keep it lubed .... keep it straight .... and keep

hookups333

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ROLLIN5.0

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VetteEater

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BlownFiveLiter

have car, will race....wait, it doesn't run

Nucking Futs

94-302-vert

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FORCED2DV8

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v6v8swap

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balderman

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