Hood - slamming to latch??

[MxRacer965]

Hello Everyone,

Used to use another forum when I was daily driving my 2011 WK2 Summit; wife just got a '21 WL Summit. Noticed that forum has next to zero in the community with the WL so here I am with my first post!

Popped the hood on her vehicle for the first time a few days ago, and found I had to whip the hood down HARD from a full open position to get to to close and stay closed. If I closed it by giving just a little help from 8-12" high like I generally do with literally every other vehicle I've even opened a hood on, it is only held by the safely latch. I think I even accidentally put some finger "dents" on the hood trying to gently close it (going in for PDR, you can't tell unless you know to look...and I do...) when it was held only by the safety latch actually. Finally got to where I opened the hood the entire way and whipped it closed HARD and it latched. I mentioned this on a FB group and everyone says "mine does that too, it's normal". Was at a car show over the weekend and closed the hood on another WL and it closed "normally". Someone I think mentioned it was due to the aluminum hood, but I don't buy that. My current DD is a 2019 Expedition Max Platinum and it's all aluminum...no issues with closing that (or putting a flat spot in the aluminum like a tin can either).

Anyone else experience this? I'm inclined to check into this myself, I generally have little faith in dealer techs but figured I'd ask the community and see what advice was out there. Tried using the search feature but didn't find anything pertinent...

Thanks! Looking forward to lurking and contributing!

 

[2021JGCLCanada]

Hello Everyone,

Used to use another forum when I was daily driving my 2011 WK2 Summit; wife just got a '21 WL Summit. Noticed that forum has next to zero in the community with the WL so here I am with my first post!

Popped the hood on her vehicle for the first time a few days ago, and found I had to whip the hood down HARD from a full open position to get to to close and stay closed. If I closed it by giving just a little help from 8-12" high like I generally do with literally every other vehicle I've even opened a hood on, it is only held by the safely latch. I think I even accidentally put some finger "dents" on the hood trying to gently close it (going in for PDR, you can't tell unless you know to look...and I do...) when it was held only by the safety latch actually. Finally got to where I opened the hood the entire way and whipped it closed HARD and it latched. I mentioned this on a FB group and everyone says "mine does that too, it's normal". Was at a car show over the weekend and closed the hood on another WL and it closed "normally". Someone I think mentioned it was due to the aluminum hood, but I don't buy that. My current DD is a 2019 Expedition Max Platinum and it's all aluminum...no issues with closing that (or putting a flat spot in the aluminum like a tin can either).

Anyone else experience this? I'm inclined to check into this myself, I generally have little faith in dealer techs but figured I'd ask the community and see what advice was out there. Tried using the search feature but didn't find anything pertinent...

Thanks! Looking forward to lurking and contributing!

My GCL hood closes normal just a simple drop from 6-8”.
Yours probably needs a hood latch adjustment. The whole lock assy probably needs to come up a hair.

 

[MxRacer965]

My GCL hood closes normal just a simple drop from 6-8”.
Yours probably needs a hood latch adjustment. The whole lock assy probably needs to come up a hair.

Figured it was abnormal...got any idea what is involved? I haven't popped the hood to see how much plastic doo-dads need to be removed to get at the lock but I figured it's just a couple bolts once you get to it...

 

[2021JGCLCanada]

Figured it was abnormal...got any idea what is involved? I haven't popped the hood to see how much plastic doo-dads need to be removed to get at the lock but I figured it's just a couple bolts once you get to it...

No I haven’t checked this one out. I work in a factory and have adjusted this part lots in the past. They all seem similar.

 

[lovebohn]

My dealership needed to adjust the latch on ours due to the same problem.

 

[SRBLV]

I adjusted mine latch on the hood, had to pull it out a little bit and put a spacer underneath.

 

[MxRacer965]

My dealership needed to adjust the latch on ours due to the same problem.

Good to know. Still debating if I do it myself or let the techs have at it...

I adjusted mine latch on the hood, had to pull it out a little bit and put a spacer underneath.

I thought about doing that as well, just putting something between the hood at the latch on the hood. Probably doesn't need much...what did you use?

 

[MxRacer965]

Jeep needed washer fluid this AM. Opened the hood and inspected. The plastic cover was just held on by plastic push rivets so decided to take that off and give adjusting the lock mechanism a try while I was in there. Loosened 4 bolts holding the lock in place and tried to move it. Nada. Loosened some more and got a SMALL amount of upward movement out of it. Seems as though the mechanism is located with a tab or pin so it can be installed consistently without needing adjustment. I put upward pressure on the mechanism while I started tightening it down so it had the best chance of remaining up as far as possible. Tested and it was perfect. Just a little help from 8-12" high and it latched with no issue. I put the plastic cover back on and tested again just in case that was providing any interference and it still worked perfect.

So anyone that comes here after, that is what I did to solve the issue. Took all of 5 minutes and basic hand tools. I can only guess whomever installs the lock mechanism just puts it on and cranks it down. It needs some "help" by putting some upward pressure on the mechanism as it is tightened.