How to Open the Hood of a Vehicle

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Lift the hood and check it out

Can't seem to get to that hard to find spot? You'd be surprised to find how easy it is to get under the hood (bonnet) of a vehicle!

Steps

1. 1
   

   Turn the car off.
   Make sure the vehicle is off, and preferably, cooled down.

   
   
2. 2
   

   Set the brake.
   Set the parking or emergency brake firmly.
3. 3
   

   Put it in park.
   Put the car in park if it has a parking gear.
4. 4
   

   The interior hood latch.
   Pull the interior hood latch. See if your car has a latch near the left side of the driver's seat, under the steering wheel. It may have a picture or marking indicating it is the hood latch. This latch will partially release the hood.
5. 5
   

   The exterior hood latch.
   Locate the latch under the front of the hood. The hood should now be partially open. You may now have to feel about for a latch under the hood to trigger the hood to open. It will generally be at the center or just to one side. Find this latch and pull up on the latch with one hand, while simultaneously lifting the hood with the other hand. The latch may go up or sideways, depending on the car.
   • 

     The same latch from inside.
     Once you find the latch and get it open, take a good look at it so that you can remember where to find it and which way to push next time.
   • Your owner's manual may be able to help.
6. 6
   

   Pull open the hood and prop it up solidly.
   Prop up the hood solidly. There may be a rod or lever at the very front or side of the hood that you can lift up and insert the tip into the underside of the hood to hold the hood up securely. Make sure the hood is securely opened. You do not want the hood to fall on you.
   • If you're concerned about the hood rod or there isn't one in your car, do what professional mechanics do and get a stronger one to set between the frame and the hood.
7. 7
   Make sure that everything is cool to the touch and that there is nothing sharp that might injure you. Always be careful reaching into your engine.
8. 8
   Always close the hood securely before driving the car again. Close the hood as you would a car door, then carefully put your fingers under the edge and tug on it to make sure it's latched. You wouldn't want a car hood popping open while you drive down the road.

   
   

Warnings

• Always make sure you close the hood all the way before driving the car because you might end up bending the hood over the windshield or losing the hood altogether from the force of aerodynamics when driving.
• Always keep your keys on you when working on your car; attached to your pocket. That way, nobody can take off with car or start it when you are working, nor will you accidentally lock yourself out of the car with the keys inside it.

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