HELP me adjust my hood latch/striker!!!

[Pryme]

So I guess I was showed the wrong way to close my hood, and was closing it down by the headlights, like you would a normal hood. the end.

anyway, my drivers side striker, that mounts to the hood, broke. so I got a new one and installed it(52 dollars for a tiny piece of metal from dodge!!!!) anyway, I digress, Now when I attempt to close it with my hands up higher on the hood, spaced about 18 inches apart, it will not latch on the side that broke.

I can get it to latch if I slowly push it down untill it hits the first latch, then give it a push the last 4 inches or so. but not the traditional way?

What needs to be done here, also when the hood is closed, it is raised ever so slightly from the front bumper on that side, so I know something needs to be adjusted.

Thank you in advance for any help I can get.

 

[dave6666]

There have been threads on that before. Hopefully none are in the Illustrated Upgrade section as you'll have to be a VCA member to access those.

Soooooo, use the search feature.

Also, I have to give the latches on my GTS a quick squirt of WD40 every now and then to make them respond well. Don't lube the hinges, just the latches on top of the radiator area.

 

[klamathpro]

I can get it to latch if I slowly push it down untill it hits the first latch, then give it a push the last 4 inches or so. but not the traditional way?

Um, I thought this was the traditional way. I've never closed my hood any other way. I never slam it without first catching the first latches first. (First!)

 

[Pryme]

Um, I thought this was the traditional way. I've never closed my hood any other way. I never slam it without first catching the first latches first. (First!)

See, I don't know. I just got the car so I don't want to do any damage, like another broken striker.

Does everyone do it this way? slowly let it catch the first latch, the one you manually open with your hand, then slam it down from there?

Confirmation would be great, thanks all.

 

[Matt M PA]

I always lower mine to the position, where just the rear rollers are touching. Then, hands wide apart 18" or so past the NACA..and give it a swift, firm push shut. Most times, it shuts the first time. It has been written here many times, that closing the hood by pressing about the latches is asking for a crack. And yes, I know the instructional video that comes with the car is wrong

 

[Pryme]

I always lower mine to the position, where just the rear rollers are touching. Then, hands wide apart 18" or so past the NACA..and give it a swift, firm push shut. Most times, it shuts the first time. It has been written here many times, that closing the hood by pressing about the latches is asking for a crack. And yes, I know the instructional video that comes with the car is wrong

So you place your hands almost mid way to the windshield?

 

[GTSnake]

So you place your hands almost mid way to the windshield?

No, just aft of the NACA.