1997 Dodge Caravan Hood Latch Replacement Cost

Because the hood on most vehicles opens at the front, vehicle safety is compromised by a faulty hood latch. If the latch releases while the vehicle is under way, the hood will open suddenly, strike the windshield, and block the driver's view of the road. The secondary safety catch on the latch is designed to prevent the hood from opening fully, but if the latch is damaged or corroded, this safety feature may not function properly. A damaged or defective hood latch should be inspected and replaced as soon as problems are detected. A hood with a latch that has failed so that the hood will not close all the way should not be driven, even though the secondary safety latch is closed.

The hood latch should last the lifetime of the vehicle. Dirt, debris, or corrosion can decrease the lifespan of the hood latch. These are a common cause of hood latch failure. Excessive force on the release lever can cause damage to the latch cable and cause the latch to fail.

A simple check of the hood latch release lever will usually alert a technician to problems with the hood latch. If the lever is overly difficult to actuate, or if the lever fails to retract after it has been pulled, the technician will try to determine whether the problem is with the latch itself or with the lever and cable. If the hood can be opened, the technician will inspect the latch for signs of damage or corrosion, close the latch without closing the hood, and pull the release lever to actuate the latch. In some cases, the latch is removed or disconnected from the cable to make sure the cable travels freely in its sheath. If the hood fails to open, the matter of diagnosing and repairing the latch becomes far more difficult.

To replace a hood latch on most vehicles, a technician will open the hood, detach the latch from its mount, unplug the alarm switch if so equipped, and disconnect the release cable. A new latch is connected and mounted and the technician checks for proper operation and alignment before closing the hood. Once the hood is closed, the technician will verify the hood alignment, and adjust if necessary. On some vehicles, trim components may need to be removed for access. If the release cable needs to be replaced, the procedure is markedly more complicated, since the cable needs to be routed behind mechanical and electrical components, around structural body components, and through the firewall (between the passenger and engine compartments) to the release lever location. This can require a good deal of disassembly, and the new cable can be compromised if the procedure is not performed carefully. In extreme cases, if the hood will not open because of a faulty latch, surrounding parts, such as the grille, may need to be broken in order to gain access to the latch.

The hood latch is an essential safety mechanism on a vehicle. It ensures that the hood remains closed while driving - and even during a crash. RepairPal recommends that the latch and cable assembly be inspected by a qualified technician as soon as symptoms show up. If a faulty latch becomes worse, the chance of a failure on the road increases, as does the chance of a hood that will not open at all.

Extreme care should be taken if a hood latch is showing signs of failure. If the hood opens while the vehicle is being driven, a loss of control is possible since visibility is blocked completely. Damage to the vehicle - broken windshield, buckled hood and hinges, and dented roof - is likely.

The hood latch on many vehicles can be replaced by someone with an intermediate level of DIY experience. It should be noted that, not only does the hood latch (or latches) serve to keep the hood closed, but is essential to alignment of the front body panels. The latch must be adjusted so that the hood is in proper alignment to the fenders, headlights, grille, bumper, etc.. If the release cable needs to be replaced, the repair is more complicated and may best be left to a qualified technician.