rgr4475

I left the hood unlatched after a drive to check fluids. Went inside to do a few things first, got busy and forgot I left the hood unlatched. Left for a drive and hit the highway. I am sure you can guess what happened next. Hood flew open and smacked against the windshield. Luckily the windshield didn't brake or crack but still extremely angry at myself as I have never done this before.

The hood is now pinching against the front metal part of the cowl where the 2 meet and there is a larger gap at the front of the hood where it latches, so something has clearly bent underneath. Guessing the hinges.

Any suggestions on getting the hood open? Can I remove the plastic and metal pieces of the cowl along with the wipers so there is nothing pinching? The hood opens no more than 6 inches so I can't see what is going on.

Turbo X_J

3 foot pry bar won't hurt anything now, just pop it open.

rgr4475

I tried a smaller thin pry bar and all it does is buckle the metal pieces around the cowl. I know I'm probably going to have to force it at some point but thought I'd ask first.

Any ideas what could be bent that caused the hood to shift backwards like that and if I can fix it? I haven't really studied how the hood and hinges are attached and what would bend.

fb97xj1

Google or look up hood hinges on Rockauto. There is a bracket of sorts on the other side of the firewall that holds the hinge. The cowl has no doubt been tweaked a little as the hood pulled on that bracket some as the hood flew back, pulling the cowl up a little in the process. Same happens with a Mustang when the hood flies back. The firewall gets pulled outwards as the hood hinges catch on the cowl, pulling it out of spec. Nothing lines up afterwards. I dont see why a Cherokee would be any different.


If the latches are stuck i hear you can get to them from behind the headlights. You will have to pull the headlights out and unbolt a bracket or two IIRC. The latches should come up with the hood so you would have to realign them later once everything is staightened out.

rgr4475

Great info, thanks! And fortunately it latches closed just fine. Only I can't open it more than 6".

Firestorm500

Sawzall.

rgr4475

Fred/N0AZZ

Do you have any friends who have a body shop? If so stop by and ask them what you might try where they can look at it, maybe it can still be used for a while till you get the money for a repair.


Hard for us to say without seeing the problem up close and personal.

rgr4475

Unfortunately, I do not. Going to work on it tomorrow and I'll post up how it goes.