# Hood and Latch

**URL:** <https://community.cartalk.com/t/hood-and-latch/40817>\
**Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\
**Tags:** civic, honda\
**Created:** [December 15, 2009, 9:39pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/hood-and-latch/40817 "2009-12-15T21:39:57Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 6\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![cdscott](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/dbc845/32.png) [@cdscott](https://community.cartalk.com/u/cdscott)\
**Post date:** [December 15, 2009, 9:39pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/hood-and-latch/40817/1 "2009-12-15T21:39:57Z")

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I have a 1998 Honda Civic and lately every time I open the hood and try to close it the hood wont close all the way. It latches enough that you can’t open the hood without pressing the lever to open it, but not enough that you can’t still get to the latch lever. Please help!

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**Author:** ![the\_same\_mountainbike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c89c15/32.png) [@the\_same\_mountainbike](https://community.cartalk.com/u/the_same_mountainbike)\
**Post date:** [December 15, 2009, 10:38pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/hood-and-latch/40817/2 "2009-12-15T22:38:12Z")

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Try cleaning and lubing the latch assembly. Most cars need this doen when they get older.

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**Author:** ![meaneyedcatz](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/meaneyedcatz/32/692_2.png) [@meaneyedcatz](https://community.cartalk.com/u/meaneyedcatz)\
**Post date:** [December 16, 2009, 4:49am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/hood-and-latch/40817/3 "2009-12-16T04:49:20Z")

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Soak the latch with some PB Blast. After it gets loosened up lbe it with white lithium grease.

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**Author:** ![keith](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/keith/32/5518_2.png) [@keith](https://community.cartalk.com/u/keith)\
**Post date:** [December 17, 2009, 1:05am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/hood-and-latch/40817/4 "2009-12-17T01:05:55Z")

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If neither of the above work, then open the hood and look on the crossbar just in front of the radiator. One each end, you will see a rubber bumper on top of a threaded rod. Thread these down a turn and try again. Repeat until the hood latches. If the hood gets real sloppy but still doesn’t latch, and you have done the above, then you may need some professional intervention from a body shop.

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**Author:** ![Need\_A\_Horse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/f6c823/32.png) [@Need\_A\_Horse](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Need_A_Horse)\
**Post date:** [December 17, 2009, 3:59am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/hood-and-latch/40817/5 "2009-12-17T03:59:32Z")

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Check the free play of cable too. Spray a little WD45 on what you can see and wipe off the dribbles. Work the lever a bunch of times.

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**Author:** ![meaneyedcatz](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/meaneyedcatz/32/692_2.png) [@meaneyedcatz](https://community.cartalk.com/u/meaneyedcatz)\
**Post date:** [December 18, 2009, 1:42am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/hood-and-latch/40817/6 "2009-12-18T01:42:23Z")

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I would use something different than WD40. It will gum up and only exacerbate the problem.