Cooker hood: operation, maintenance and price

The hood is one of the most important parts of the body of your car. Due to its location, it covers and protects many parts of the car, such as the engine or the fuse box. Supported by a security system, it cannot open during your movements and interfere with your visibility.

🚘 How does the hood of a car work?

The hood is the front part of your vehicle's body. It may consist of sheet metal or polyester and fiberglasslike most of the car body. On the inside, it can have soundproofing materials to limit engine roar.

Thus, it does not consist of a single piece of sheet metal, but of several pieces welded together to minimize its deformation in the event of an impact or collision.

Its role is to protect the engine and all other organs underneath. Thus, it is he who opens when you want to access the engine, battery or coolant expansion tank. There are several options for opening the hood, depending on your car model:

• Zipper available in salon. : it is usually located on the driver's side above or to the left of the pedals;
• External device : This option is quite rare on modern cars. This device is located at the level of the hood itself;
• Key : This solution has also been deprecated in recent car models, but may be present on older cars.

You can then block the hood in the air with a metal rod that you can hang from the recess. It is also worth noting that the latest generation cars are equipped with active hood Features Sensors allowing to limit pedestrian injuries in road accidents.

⚠️ What are the signs of HS coverage?

The hood is an element of the body, the change of which occurs quite rarely. However, due to impact or mishandling, it may stop working properly because the cover is stuck or the lever is broken. Then you may encounter the following situations:

• The hood no longer closes : it can no longer be closed and this can damage the mechanical parts that it protects, in particular from cold, moisture and dirt;
• The hood does not open anymore : The cover may be completely locked and you will no longer be able to open it. You will need to contact a professional to unblock this situation;
• Hood lifts on the go : it becomes more and more difficult to use it when closing, and it can be very dangerous, because if it rises completely, you will lose all visibility on the road;
• The hood is deformed in places : it may be due to shock. It will have to be changed quickly, because these deformations can completely detach it.

👨‍🔧 How to open the hood of a car without a tongue?

When your hood begins to show signs of resistance and the tongue does not allow opening, there are several solutions you can try depending on the problem you are experiencing:

1. A can of oil or rust remover : The cover may get stuck due to rust or dirt. If you lubricate its contour with oil, it will be easier to open when you try to lift it with your hand;
2. The second person presses the hood : Pull the tab and have someone press the hood at the same time. Can be triggered if the cable is caught between the lock and the lever;
3. Screwdriver and pliers : allows you to pull on the cable located next to the tab after removing the cover from it;
4. Interior Calender : you can access the opening mechanism by finding it with a mirror and activating it with pliers.

💳 How much does it cost to replace the hood?

The cost of replacing the hood will vary significantly depending on the model and make of your vehicle. If the damage is very minor, repairs can be made with body sealant and will not cost more than one hundred euros.

In the case of a complete replacement of the hood, the average price fluctuates within 80 € and 300 €... If you want to know the cost of this intervention to the nearest euro, use our online garage comparator.

A bonnet is essential to provide protection for your engine and related components. If it is defective, do not wait until it is completely locked in the open or closed position to consult a specialist for repair!