Hood Latch Issue
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Hood Latch Issue
I am having an issue with the hood latch on my '98 F150. I opened it up and now it will no longer latch. I tried spraying some WD40 to try and lubricate it a bit, but that did not seem to work. Has anyone had this same problem? Is there a built-in adjustment that could fix the issue? The retaining piece appears to be a slight bit worn. Might I need a new part? Any help would be appreciated. Thanks.
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Joined: Jan 2003
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From: 3rd Rock
Originally Posted by smweber77
I am having an issue with the hood latch on my '98 F150. I opened it up and now it will no longer latch. I tried spraying some WD40 to try and lubricate it a bit, but that did not seem to work. Has anyone had this same problem? Is there a built-in adjustment that could fix the issue? The retaining piece appears to be a slight bit worn. Might I need a new part? Any help would be appreciated. Thanks.
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Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Jan 2003
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From: Central Ohio
Had the same problem, ended up riding around on the safety latch for a while. Once I started messing with the latch I noticed one of the springs was all wore out (the one near the bottom that is like impossible to see & get at) and the spring actually fell into pieces while I was trying to unhook it. I took out the latch assembly and went to the hardware store and got a spring. Works fine now.
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Thanks, I'll pull off the assembly tonight and have a look.
Sounds like a likely suspect- the cable is free, the alignment is good, it's just that the mechanism is not locking down. I can push the latch all the way in and it pops right back up. I guess the little spring is the one that holds it down, or moves the catch that does.
Sounds like a likely suspect- the cable is free, the alignment is good, it's just that the mechanism is not locking down. I can push the latch all the way in and it pops right back up. I guess the little spring is the one that holds it down, or moves the catch that does.
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Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Jan 2003
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From: Central Ohio
Yeah, thats it... the spring the reutrns the 'catch' piece. The release cable opens up the catch, but the return spring on it is seperate from the return spring on the catch, and the spring on the catch is much smaller and weaker and more liekly to corode, break, stop working than the other spring. Atleast thats what ailed mine.
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Fixed it, it turns out that the spring itself was still intact, but the lever that the spring (and the cable) connect to was seized in the open position.
The cable was moving backwards and forwards OK but was moving through the lever. The spring could not overcome the friction seized axle on the lever and return it to the closed position.
Of course you cannot see (or lube) any of this without taking the latch off.
Thanks for the help
Simon
The cable was moving backwards and forwards OK but was moving through the lever. The spring could not overcome the friction seized axle on the lever and return it to the closed position.
Of course you cannot see (or lube) any of this without taking the latch off.
Thanks for the help
Simon
