I checked this with my SVT dealer awhile back. It is normal to have to let the hood drop from about 12". I've been doing it for over a year now. No problem. It was scary the first couple of times, though.
Problem's Closing My Hood.
- Thread starter Hissss5
- Start date
Are you saying that dropping the hood or pushing down on the hood will crack the paint? :??:
Pushing down on the hood will crack the paint for sure. To close it properly you need to drop it from a good 10-12inches up. DO NOT slam it down with your hand to try to close it. The body shop man @ my ford dealer told me he has seen alot of Fords come in with cracked paint up front from people not closing it properly
12" and drop...no biggie. This is NORMAL for our cars.
Thanks for the confirmation. That was my understanding as well. ;-)
No problem. I actually have 3 very small, hardly noticeable cracks in my hood. They are all inline with each other right above the hood latch. I found it a few days after i picked up my car. You can only see it under the perfect light and perfect angle. My dealer offered to paint it under warrenty. I told them i will hold off on it. If it gets worse then i will have it painted. I was worried about them not matching the paint. Plus you cant even see it unless you really tried. If it gets worse they will fix it.
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Friendchicken
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Listen folks, there are 2 stops that you can just screw in to let the hood fall deeper to reach the latch assembly. Takes 2 seconds and all you need is a 8" drop.
If you do drop the hood and it doesn't latch, NEVER try to force it with the palm of your hand- else you get cracked paint/hood.
If you do drop the hood and it doesn't latch, NEVER try to force it with the palm of your hand- else you get cracked paint/hood.
Thank G-D youp not driving a Chevy Venture mini van.I got a great price but my Cobras more fun,is faster and outhandles the van,bet your suprised.I also bet sarcasm may not be neede.
I to do tthe 10" drop no problems thank you LORD,Dave Smilovic
I to do tthe 10" drop no problems thank you LORD,Dave Smilovic
:coolman: 12" drop is standard, according to 2 dealers locally. After you have done it a dozen times, it actually feels like it should be done this way.
I've been using the following method for years, even on my 99 GT:
- Hold hood about 3 inches up.
- Put the palm of your hand right above the latch.
- *Gently* give it a little shove. Just enough to create momentum. Do NOT push hard on it.
The hood should close and lock, and without creating the additional stress of dropping it from 12 inches. Used this technique on my 99 GT for four years and never had any problems with paint cracking. Same for the Cobra so far.
- Hold hood about 3 inches up.
- Put the palm of your hand right above the latch.
- *Gently* give it a little shove. Just enough to create momentum. Do NOT push hard on it.
The hood should close and lock, and without creating the additional stress of dropping it from 12 inches. Used this technique on my 99 GT for four years and never had any problems with paint cracking. Same for the Cobra so far.
I have to do the same thing, but with the same process that Nyte Byte does.
I bring the hood down to about 6" or so above the latch, and then sort of push it down with my hand, to create momentum.
I don't like having to drop it over 12" to close it, so I have just done the close, and push method.
You don't follow the hood down to the latch with your hand, just give it a shove on the way down...
I've had 3 other Mustangs, and this is the first one with a hood that closes like this, all others you could just give a small drop, and they would be fine... :shrug:
I bring the hood down to about 6" or so above the latch, and then sort of push it down with my hand, to create momentum.
I don't like having to drop it over 12" to close it, so I have just done the close, and push method.
You don't follow the hood down to the latch with your hand, just give it a shove on the way down...
I've had 3 other Mustangs, and this is the first one with a hood that closes like this, all others you could just give a small drop, and they would be fine... :shrug:
Never had a problem with holding the hood at 8" with one hand, then literally throwing it up again and letting it drop under its own weight. Sounds like a gunshot but you KNOW it's closed...the only metal hitting is the latch and it's reinforced. Rubber bushings everywhere else there's not a hood hinge. Ford tries to ID10T-proof this stuff for the most part...but pushing down on a flexible painted surface is something that they (really) don't expect you to do :shrug:
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