I was waxing the hood the other day and I noticed something really interesting.
I popped the hood to wax the top edges of the fenders and while I was doing it I couldn't believe how much the hood wiggles when released to the safety catch. So I got to pressing and wiggling and thinking, noticing how pressing on one front edge of the hood would make the opposite corner "flap" around. It seems the hood relies on 2 hinges, 2 hood stops, 2 bumpers, and the center catch to keep the hood still. A loose front corner can actually make the opposite rear corner move! The hinges and the center catch are not enough to keep the hood still. Adjustment of the hood stops is strangely critical. Too high and the rubber bumpers on the front edge corner of the hood do not contact. Too low and the hood has a loose fit and the rubber bumpers on the front edge corner of the hood allow the hood to rub on the fender. This photo shows the point to check for rubbing caused by low hood stops.
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This is a hood stop. A simple large plastic bolt.
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Checking the fit is easy. I took a 4 gobs of car wax (since I had it right there) and put them on the 2 stops and the 2 rubber bumpers. Then I carefully pressed on the center of the hood until it locked into the closed position. Do not slam! You will get hood flex resulting in inaccurate wax transfer. At first, only one stop and one bumper were in contact on opposite sides. Evidenced by wax transfer. So I lowered the higher stop and raised the lower stop. After doing this several times, wiping off the wax, reapplying and closing the hood. I came to a point where all 4 contact points had equal amounts of wax transfer. Now the hood seems tight and well positioned.
Give it a try. It can't hurt.
I popped the hood to wax the top edges of the fenders and while I was doing it I couldn't believe how much the hood wiggles when released to the safety catch. So I got to pressing and wiggling and thinking, noticing how pressing on one front edge of the hood would make the opposite corner "flap" around. It seems the hood relies on 2 hinges, 2 hood stops, 2 bumpers, and the center catch to keep the hood still. A loose front corner can actually make the opposite rear corner move! The hinges and the center catch are not enough to keep the hood still. Adjustment of the hood stops is strangely critical. Too high and the rubber bumpers on the front edge corner of the hood do not contact. Too low and the hood has a loose fit and the rubber bumpers on the front edge corner of the hood allow the hood to rub on the fender. This photo shows the point to check for rubbing caused by low hood stops.
This is a hood stop. A simple large plastic bolt.
Checking the fit is easy. I took a 4 gobs of car wax (since I had it right there) and put them on the 2 stops and the 2 rubber bumpers. Then I carefully pressed on the center of the hood until it locked into the closed position. Do not slam! You will get hood flex resulting in inaccurate wax transfer. At first, only one stop and one bumper were in contact on opposite sides. Evidenced by wax transfer. So I lowered the higher stop and raised the lower stop. After doing this several times, wiping off the wax, reapplying and closing the hood. I came to a point where all 4 contact points had equal amounts of wax transfer. Now the hood seems tight and well positioned.
Give it a try. It can't hurt.
