How to Close Car Hood Properly

Exercising care when closing the hood of your car is important in keeping it in good working condition. The hood protects the most essential components of your vehicle, which includes the engine and its many parts.

The mechanics of closing your car hood isn’t rocket science, but there is a correct way of doing it to ensure that it won’t get worn out easily and to keep everything underneath in good shape.

Closing the Hood of Your Car

The car hood acts as a cover for the front engine. Hinged onto the cowl of the vehicle, it serves as an entry point to the engine compartment. Access to this compartment is important for vehicle maintenance and for quick fixes.

A latch installed underneath secures the hood in place.

1. Check the engine compartment

When doing repairs and maintenance, make sure that you don’t accidentally leave some items in the engine compartment. Do an inventory of all the tools or used parts that were used before you close the hood.

2. Make sure all covers and caps are secured

Before closing the hood, check that all the lids and covers of the components inside your engine compartment are properly attached. Make sure all of them are secured tightly to prevent leaks and other issues.

3. Unhook the rod and fasten it to the clip

Hold the front edge of the hood with one hand, slightly push it upward, and unhook the prop rod with your other hand. Lower the rod and secure it in place—there should be a small clip (the hood prop rod clip) near the front of the engine compartment.

Using a rag, remove any grease off the edge of the hood.

4. Carefully pull the hood down

With both hands, gently pull the hood down. Leave about a foot of space before dropping the hood. Make sure that it is fastened securely.

What If My Hood Won’t Close Properly?

If your hood still won’t close securely, chances are, the latch is broken. Obviously, a hood that won’t close has the potential to blow open—which makes it a safety concern.

Get the issue fixed right away by going to your trusted mechanic. Or, if you know your way around cars, just purchase a replacement hood latch and fix it yourself.

Get the Right Hood Latch For Your Vehicle

Now that you’re familiar with how to close your vehicle’s hood properly, you might need to replace your faulty hood latch. Without one, your vehicle’s hood might not be properly locked in place. In a worst-case scenario, the hood can open while traveling at high speeds and obscure your view of the road. This is incredibly dangerous, so you should replace your faulty hood latch as soon as possible.

Luckily, here at CarParts.com, we get hood latches from the most trusted aftermarket manufacturers in the industry. Each hood latch is handpicked by a team of professionals, ensuring that it will meet your vehicle’s specifications and function properly. You don’t have to worry about your hood opening abruptly anytime soon because our hood latches are built to last.

Additionally, our warehouses have been strategically built all over the US. This means you can get your order within a matter of days.

Browse our catalog of hood latches now here at CarParts.com.

Products Mentioned in this Guide

Hood Rod Clip Hood Latch