I adjust mine and it works great until a fender hits a tree or a rock. I gave up. 3 hits with a fist and it opens.
CK5
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So, I'm getting pretty tired of having to give the hood a love tap
- Thread starter Phil513
- Start date
1. My hood used to open like that, had to bang on it to get it to pop up.
2. About 4 years ago when I put an expensive paint job on my K5, banging on body panels was not an option. I fixed my latch, one pull on the handle and it pops up, a gentle push down on the hood closes it too, no slaming. Mine works like brand new.
3. No, I can't remember what I did.
I think I just cleaned, lubed, and adjusted IIRC.
2. About 4 years ago when I put an expensive paint job on my K5, banging on body panels was not an option. I fixed my latch, one pull on the handle and it pops up, a gentle push down on the hood closes it too, no slaming. Mine works like brand new.
3. No, I can't remember what I did.
I think I just cleaned, lubed, and adjusted IIRC.
I was about to post a thread on this topic. For me, every so often I pull the latch and nothing happens. I generally go and push down on the hood and 25% of the time it opens, the rest it relatches and I repeat the process until I get lucky. Kind of annoying. I'd also be interested in tricks to adjust it.
Those who don't have an easy opening hood, are you having to slam it to get it to latch, too? That's one piece of additional info in my case. IIRC when we put the hood on, adjustment was made to get the body panels to line up, but it sounds like the hard unlatching (and latching probably) are a result of needing some vertical adjustment of the latching system. Is there such an adjustment at the latch itself?
Ditto.
I'm lucky I guess,both of my truck's hoods pop open first try every time..
I think the spring they put under the latch gets weak,or just wasn't strong enough to start with..a little rust or gunk on the latch,and it wont pop up like it should..
But I'm betting the cable will break someday on my pickup,because I have to open the hood every day before I drive it, to ensure there's enough oil in the engine before starting it due to leakage...and on my Suburban,I only open it when I'm going to put a battery in it to start it every few months,so I wont be surprised if the cable gives up soon...
I keep the latches & cable on both trucks well oiled,hoping that will help...
I think the spring they put under the latch gets weak,or just wasn't strong enough to start with..a little rust or gunk on the latch,and it wont pop up like it should..
But I'm betting the cable will break someday on my pickup,because I have to open the hood every day before I drive it, to ensure there's enough oil in the engine before starting it due to leakage...and on my Suburban,I only open it when I'm going to put a battery in it to start it every few months,so I wont be surprised if the cable gives up soon...
I keep the latches & cable on both trucks well oiled,hoping that will help...
Closes very nice and easily,but you have to tap the hood 2-3 times for it to pop up
SUCCESS!!! Took the latch off, soaked it in degreaser and scrubbed it with a brush. Then oiled it up.
Tugged on the hood spring a bit to make it a bit longer.
Hood pops up like a champ now! This is a small victory that feels really big.
Thanks all!
Tugged on the hood spring a bit to make it a bit longer.
Hood pops up like a champ now! This is a small victory that feels really big.
Thanks all!
Mine has been doing this since 1994, now you have inspired me to go fix this,a small thing but why not
The thing is, the latch felt like it moved very freely, but I'm thinking that I was messing with it when it wasn't under spring pressure. Probably just had some crud in it that bound it up when it was under load.
Either way, I'm way happy.
Either way, I'm way happy.
telling ya, it's not only keeping it lubed, it's occasionally doing exactly what you did.. clean it out thoroughly.. they get grit in em.... I've even put a rag around em and under it in place and cleaned em good with carb cleaner and a toofbrush...
Sometimes the striker rubs on the side of the latch, not centered which will do the same thing. The spring can not overcome the friction.
I have helped out lots of hoods with a quick lube of the latch and turning the rubber bumpers up at the corners. I figured that since they are rubber, that they may lose some of their spring due to age and temperature cycles. They seem to help out the center spring some. Just part of the system.
Lunatic
1/2 ton status
Think about this....I'd wager it is 95% of everyone's problem and repair (not quick fix).
Many in this thread have stated their latch moves freely. The cable is good. Lubed massively. But it didn't fix anything. Because it's not the problem.
You can fix it right now, in 5 seconds, with a pair of slip channel pliers, period.
No one looked at the pin IN the hood - The one which the hook/latch latches to. For the most part, the pin develops a flat spot on the top side which you can not see from all the years of rubbing from the hook.
Open your hood and spin the hood pin 180 (and see the flat spot), and restore the round edge to the top of the pin.
The hook/latch hangs on the flat spot, and the hood spring retains enough tension to stop it from releasing. When you tap the hood with your fist it simply pushes the hood down just far enough to let the hook release from the flat spot.
With the round edge back in place, the hook has nowhere to hang up - And releases like it should.
Check it out - I hope this fixes the problem for everyone.
Troy B
Ft Hood, TX
Many in this thread have stated their latch moves freely. The cable is good. Lubed massively. But it didn't fix anything. Because it's not the problem.
You can fix it right now, in 5 seconds, with a pair of slip channel pliers, period.
No one looked at the pin IN the hood - The one which the hook/latch latches to. For the most part, the pin develops a flat spot on the top side which you can not see from all the years of rubbing from the hook.
Open your hood and spin the hood pin 180 (and see the flat spot), and restore the round edge to the top of the pin.
The hook/latch hangs on the flat spot, and the hood spring retains enough tension to stop it from releasing. When you tap the hood with your fist it simply pushes the hood down just far enough to let the hook release from the flat spot.
With the round edge back in place, the hook has nowhere to hang up - And releases like it should.
Check it out - I hope this fixes the problem for everyone.
Troy B
Ft Hood, TX
That's freakin' genius. Never thought of that.
I also do the old clean and lube every six months or so...I'll have to take a look at that pin though. A more permanent fix would be nice.
Will try today and report back on this trick.
badmix
1/2 ton status
Ill take a look at that latch on the hood more curious than anything, but ive been lucky that ive never had to pound on my hood to open it. One of the few things ive gotten lucky on, but I do lube up the latch on the core support, the hood and any other part of the hood that moves (hinges, ,cable, etc).
