So I opened the hood the day after I got the car to show my buddies the engine (yes 3.8L v6) and now the hood wont close. The latch seems to be working properly, it seems like the 'hook' that is supposed to be on the hood itself is missing. Does that make sense? Where the hood meets the looking mechanism below, there is only a square with a small circle on the left side of the square. Should there not be a hook type of mechanism on that? I dont have my digital camera with me otherwise I would take the photographs, and I need the hood to close because I got a 100 mile drive tomorrow... Any help would greatly be appreciated.

Regarding what I have tried, I have tried to pull the latch from the car a couple of times and close the hood, no go. I tried resetting the locking mechanism under the hood (by pushing it straight) but again no go.

 

try opening the hood a foot or two and slamming it shut... sometimes they need a little force to shut.

 

I definitely have.... Im gonna go back right now and try and few things...

 

Nothing seems to be working.... And I know how to close hoods, this is my 4th car (I'm 23 years old lol)

Anyone have any other idea's???? Is there supposed to be a hook on the actual hood that is supposed to engage the locking mechanism below?

 

i wouldn't say a hook persay its more of a hole with a bracket and a bar that runs through the middle of it that hooks on the hook of the lever on the radiatior support

 

the alignment might be off. you can loosen the bolts holding the latch down but i wouldnt play with them too much and get it way off.

 

Not saying you don't... the latches are just really, really stubborn on these cars (I think my neighbors think I hate my car with how I have to slam my hood shut lol)

 

i would spray the lock part down with a lube then check alignment and also your rubber bump stops they may be set to high

 

i used to give it a foot of and slam it into place, than i oiled it and now it's only 1/2 foot but sometimes doesn't work i have to push the hood in just pressing real hard.

 

lol, I am glad to hear that it is not just me that has to SLAM the hood on my mustang.