underhood latch possibly damaged ?!?! - Honda Prelude Forum

Si_g · 02-26-2005, 07:26 PM

i got my car back from the body shop yesterday, it seemed fine then, but today after i got i got done puttin parts back on the car, i closed the hood and noticed that it wasnt closing all the way down.... it locks into place, i cant reopen it unless i go pull the lever inside the car, but after i close it, there is just enough room for my finger to reach the lever to open the hood. There is also about 4 to 5 millimeters of gap on each corners of the hood. It was fine 2 days ago when i last checked it, but somehow i guess its broken or loose somehow. Also i noticed that since yesterday whenever i open the hood from the inside lever, it doesnt make that clunking sound anymore, i just pull and it releases it. I never slam the hood to close it, I always gently push it down...but after this i tried smallin it a few times, but no luck here are same quick snaps...any ideas ?

edit...bumper is not loose, its fully reinforced, and trippled checked everything, it just dont close all the way...and i didnt forget anything under the hood.

under hood, everything seems normal

latch doesnt look like it moved in years ...

yohan420 · 02-26-2005, 07:59 PM

My suggestion, the rubber pieces where the screw holes are for adjusting the headlights ... theres 2 rubber pieces that are screwd into the rad support right by the conrner lights, screw em down clockwise. The hood rests on these.

4bidden · 02-26-2005, 08:10 PM

Just sounds like maybe your hood latch was loose when you got it back and its slipped upwards or it was too high to begin with. Loosen the two bolts that hold it on and lower it some. That should be all thats needed to adjust the latch.

Si_g · 02-26-2005, 08:46 PM

ok i loosened the 2 bolts but im not sure what its supposed to do. from the looks of it, the bolts seemed adjusted to the middle of the holes of the latch, i tried lowering it, or movin it up higher, but doesnt do anything, it wont move its like something else is holdin it up at that level, i can only move it back and fourth. I loosened the bolts all the way to see what it would bo but nothing, even if i remove the bolts, it looks like it ll still sit there just not bolted to the body.

DeadFish · 02-26-2005, 11:42 PM

dont know if this helps..

but I assume we have the same locking mechanism (gen5.)
same thing happened with me after getting some service done... I bought a set of metal scrapers from the dollar general store used to clean BBQ cooking equipment.

My lock was stuffed full of dirt, dead bugs, etc... After a good scraping and then some lube afterwards.. it closed back as normal.

UWNTSUM · 02-27-2005, 10:15 AM

if u want, u can try this... get a thick piece of wood, and prop it behind the latch, get a hammer and hit it a few times that might help it... looks like the latch got pushed in from the accident and the shop didn't take the time to re-adjust it.

ZIG · 02-27-2005, 12:40 PM

sig, there are three bolts on the latch mechanism. two up top on the sides, and a third one below the assembly in the center. you'll have to feel for it. loosen all three, push the latch assembly down and tighten. this should do it, i had to with my CF hood

Si_g · 02-28-2005, 09:59 AM

oh ok, i didn tknow there was a 3rd one, i ll check that out 2night when i get home from school, i was so pissed yesterday, i hammered it down a mid and moved it bout 4 to 5 mm. it helped the the ends of the hood line up to the fenders, but the front of th hood still is a few mm shy, so i think that u pointed out about the 3rd bold, will help...my latch is so dirty, i couldnt even see a 3rd bolt. is the 3rd one in front or behind ?

ZIG · 02-28-2005, 01:16 PM

the 3rd bold is still in front, just below the meat of the latch assembly

0 0 <--upper bolts you undid
[ ] <---latch mechanism itself
0 <---3rd bolt

i had to feel for it, myself. just feel around below until you feel a bolt head.

ZIG · 02-28-2005, 01:18 PM

that diagram didn't turn out like it was supposed to...