Hood Latch Replacement Cost Estimate

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.