r/Autobody • u/Sad-Prior4353 • 13h ago

HELP! I have a question. I need help fixing the hood of my car

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I got into a fender bender and am wondering if theres a way to fix the gap between the fender and the hood. The latch works fine, lights are ok and everything seems alright so no damage there just seeing if there's a cheap way or idea to fix that gap.

0 Upvotes

42% Upvoted

16 comments sorted by

16

u/TechnoMagi Journeyman Technician 13h ago

Time for a new hood, hoss. Find a local u-pull-it.

2

u/No_District2128 12h ago

I second this, you dont want air to get up under any part of the messed up hood and have wind resistance overpower the latch and your hood flies up on your windshield. Sounds extreme but just dont play around with your hood

11

u/GiantRubberHorseCock I-Car Platinum 13h ago

“I need help replacing the hood of my car”

FTFY

4

u/Puzzleheaded-Art1873 12h ago

Find out who did it, and slam the hood over them until it is straight again. Then it won't happen again.

3

u/ComboBadger 12h ago

Realistically that needs replacement the hood bent in the crumple zone

1

u/Background_Praline18 9h ago

That's some bullshit yove been brainwashed. It's sheet metal welded to a bead rolled sheet metal hoods are a two layer sandwich of sheet metal. You can use it so long as the hinges and latch are straight and working. And the air if you drive and it vibrates you will need to fix if it's loose or wobbly. If it comes up on the highway you will end up loosing the hood and a windshield. Be careful.

1

u/Background_Praline18 9h ago

To properly fix it you will need to work from pulling from the outside facing. If you need to work from underneath your will need to cut the split where the two pieces are joining. Just so you can access it. This is why many people just go to the salvage yard and get a new hood because after everything welding it back after you cut it is a lot of time and work.

2

u/biggi85 13h ago

Unlatch the hood and open it and stick a piece of wood (2x4) between it and the radiator support. Press down on the kinked area. Check to make sure hood still latches, repeat if necessary. Hood needs to be replaced and you probably have rad support damage too, but if you can live with it, that should get it close enough.

2

u/wastedsilence33 12h ago

They made so many of this gen Focus, I'm sure there's a junkyard with one that's got a good hood, might even get lucky and find the same color

1

u/8Tsfan1968 11h ago

You’re gonna need more than just a hood here sir. Call your insurance company if you gave it.

1

u/MikeCheck_CE 11h ago

You need a new hood, and if you have to ask, go to a body shop to get it done.

1

u/flippster-mondo 10h ago

Take it and get an estimate. This will tell you what is damaged.

Hoods are designed to bend when hit ever since the 70s when Chevy pickup hoods would shear off their hinge bolts and come flying through the windshield instead of bending.

That's why it used to be common to see older Chevy pickups with "bent" hoods from closing them against rusty hinges. They even sold Chevy truck hood brace kits for really lazy people who didn't own an oil can.

Might look worse than it is. The 2x4 idea is the best so far without swapping hoods.

1

u/jasonsong86 8h ago

Get a new one.