All About Car Hoods

Every vehicle has a hood which is basically a hinged cover over the engine. The purpose of the hood is to allow access to the engine compartment of the vehicle. The hood has gone through changes over the course of decades with changes in vehicle models and also origin of vehicle manufacture.

Currently you will find that the hoods are either made out of steel or aluminum. The latter is gaining popularity in the recent times by automobile companies. The aftermarket manufacturers however may construct hoods out of other materials like fiberglass, carbon fiber, or dry carbon.

The hood has a few components that make it able to perform its job, the functionality of it is enabled by few mechanical systems like interior hood latch handle, hood release cable and hood latch assembly. Usually the hood latch handle is located below the steering wheel, beside the driver's seat or set into the door frame itself. In the case of race cars or aftermarket hoods, it may hold down by hood pins, in some you may even find that the latch system comes with hood pins to hold the hood buttoned down in case the latch fails to function.

There are few types of hoods available in the market these days. When choosing one, it's good to have awareness on the types and how they can benefit your vehicle and requirements. Read on to know more about the types and their features.

1. Cowl Hoods - These are names so as they provide coil induction to the engine. This hood allows air to be forced not just quickly but directly into the air inducers. This hence allows the air to blow into the combustion chambers. This hood is ready for assembly right from the manufacturer. We all know that the more air received by the engine, the better it will run, and the cowl hood is easy to fix as well. Various types of cowl hoods are present, you will need to determine the exact size for your vehicle and have it fitted in order for it to work right.
2. Carbon Fiber Hoods - Available in various colors and sizes you can buy this type of hood depending on how big your vehicle is and your preferred color. These are made from carbon fiber which allows proper air circulation to your engine. And the best part is that it looks stylish as well. You will also get maximum engine performance as it allows the air to reach the engine very well.
3. Fiberglass Hoods - These are super easy to assemble and allow good air ventilation while also being stylish. These are also available in different colors and sizes to match your vehicle's needs. Fiberglass is a good material for hoods as it won’t dent easily and be ruined due to small accidents, which will help save you money in the long run.
4. Steel Hoods - Buying a steel hood is fully based on the need of your vehicle. These are heavy duty and larger in size and bulky. You can find them in different colors and sizes as per vehicles requirement. These are also good at allowing ventilation to the engine which is important for your engine to run well.

Understanding the basic function of the hood will help you decide on the best one for your vehicle. The main function of the hood is to direct access to the engine, battery and other important parts of the car for repair/maintenance. It also helps in protecting these parts from direct sunlight and dust and other atmospheric contaminants.

The car hood is also known as the bonnet in some countries. As you know by now that it’s a significant part of your vehicle and covers the engine, it is kept down by a latch system. The hood can be opened easily by the latch present in the interior of the vehicle, right below the steering wheel. Once this is pulled, the hood automatically pops open a little so that you can easily open it up. You can also open the hood by using the secondary switch located underneath the front of the hood. A concealed latch is usually used to hold down the hood. The hood of your car is an important feature, and protects the components inside it, never drive with an open hood.

The prime purpose of the hood is to give access to the engine for repair and maintenance. It protects the components inside from environmental pollution as well.

The most common causes of trouble with the hood have been listen down for you:

1. Oil Spillage - due to the presence of oil outside the engine there may be smoking under hood but not overheating. This happens when you are not careful while filling up the gas tank, or if a spill of oil occurs while adding oil to the crankcase. If there is oil spillage at the wrong place, then it won’t harm the vehicle, however it will produce a harsh oily smell, this will be indicative of something going wrong. This smell will burn off quickly without being a reason for long-term damage to the vehicle’s components. It is important to note here, that is the spilling is happening on a regular basis and you continue to drive without wiping it off, some components made of rubber or plastic could break down due to being submerged in oil for a lengthy duration.
2. A Leaky Component - In this case there is oil leaking from a component sitting high on the engine. There could be a leaky valve cover gasket present, in such a case replacing the valve cover gasket is easier and cheaper. But if this problem is ignored it can cause major damage.
3. The Oil Filler Cap - If you find white smoke being emitted from the hood of your car when the car is not overheating is common. This happens when the oil filter cap in almost all the engines releases a light smoke, this basically is the residue of the burnt fuel inside the engine. Other reasons for smoke coming out are worn out piston rings and clogged PCV tube or valve. Rings that have been in use since a long time will cause the pistons to siphon fuel into the cylinder where it burns and hence creates the smoke that you see coming out of your hood. This smoke then passes through the piston rings, the job of the crankcase ventilation is to pull the smoke back into the engine for burning again, but when this doesn't happen the smoke gets released into the oil filter cap.
4. Electrical Wires - Engine smoking can also happen because of a hot wire. In such a case apart from seeing the smoke you will be able to smell a pungent odor. This smell can be difficult to trace if it’s coming from the alternator’s copper wires. Even if the alternator is fully burnt you will get the same pungent smell. In this case the lights for low voltage as well and check engine will get turned on.
5. Coolant Leak - Steam may come out occasionally if there’s a leak in the coolant overflow tank. This is again due to not overheating of the engine, but another reason. These kind of occasional smoke puffs may also happen due to leaked and burn power steering or transmission fluid. If that is the case then a cloud of smoke accompanied with a little chemical odor will be present.

Are you thinking of repairing your Hoods on your own? Then there is one thing which you must have, that is the right tools needed for repairing your Hoods. It is essential to make sure that you are outfitted with the right tools to get the work done properly. Have a look at some tools which you might need to get started with your repair work: -

• Ratchet
• Sockets
• New Hood

When it comes to vehicle owner’s choice, the brands really matter a lot. You might pay a premium for a specific car part brand, over time, as it has created a perception of quality, stability as well as trust. There are some leading car parts brands which are more than just products or services as they give rise to memories and emotions related with the quality. So have a look at some of the top brands for Hoods.

It is very important to arm yourself with information before you shop any auto part. We are here to help you dive deep into the names of the Hoods related parts.

• Hood Scoop
• Hood Vent
• Hood Appearance Set

Hoods replacement cost can differ wildly depending on application, the brand of the Hoods as well as who does the work. All you have to do is to replace your faulty Hoods with us online and then you can leave your car to the mechanic and pick it up a few days later. Just be sure that the car mechanic is highly skilled and has a good reputation. Sometimes the additional service level might cost you more than what you have expected. We also recommend you to take pictures of your car before you leave it with them so that you are sure that later on it is returned back to you in an unharmed condition.

As an approximate, the price of a car hood only is going to be anywhere from $70 to as much as $500. If you are going to have the hood professionally replaced at a local dealer or collision shop, then the parts and labor will probably cost anywhere from $700 to $1,900 approximately.

Here are the steps to confidently change your car hood, get on your safety glasses and start off:

Step 1

Pop open the hood and prop it up

Step 2

Your helper has to go to one side of the hood while you remain on the other.

Step 3

Get the right sized ratchet to loosen the two bolts located at the base of the hood where it gets attached to the hinges.

Step 4

Now your helper can remove the two bolts present on his side while you hold the hood. It’s important that the hood is held with a firm hand.

Step 5

Now grasp the hood firmly and gently pull the prop rod out of the hood. Lift the hood with your leg strength to avoid back injury/strain on the lower back.

Step 6

Place the hood that you have removed from the hinges and place it on your work area slowly.

Step 7

Now you can install the new hood on the hinges, and prop it with the prop rod.

Step 8

Taking turns tighten all the four bolts and close the hood. In case you find that the hood is not aligned properly in comparison to the fenders when you close the hood, then you will have to loosen the bolts slightly and then reposition the hood. Do this will you are able to note an even gap on both sides of the hood. Once that’s sorted you can tighten the bolts securely.