Hood Latch issues on 1996 T4R SR5

[Shorething]

I just purchased a 1996 T4R SR5 (my first T4R):dancin:; really good shape 155K. No real issues, but..... The hood bounces up and down slighty when traveling. The hood is latched and the hood release works. But this is annoying me. I have tried loosening the latch assembly, but there is no adjustment up or down. Any advice on how to remedy this would be much appreciated.

 

[jsmarine]

try the rubber hood stops on either side of the hood. Not sure of the correct name for them, but they look like bump stops for the hood. You can adjust those.

 

[Shorething]

I tried adjusting the rubber hood stop thingies; no luck. I am not sure what you call them either. It is as though the hood latch may be worn enough to give the hood more up and down play. The hood is straight and the lines are even b/w the fenders. Maybe new latch assembly? Thanks for the feedback jsmarine.

 

[CoMarc]

I've had the same issue with my hood too, although it's never become a problem. My hood also has one of those plastic shields on the front which I heard can catch wind and cause the problem. Do you have one of those on your T4R?

 

[Shorething]

You mean the plastic bug deflector things? It does not have one; but it may have had one at some point in its life. I knew this issue existed before I bought it, but was really not focused on it. Now when I drive it seems to be catch my attention more. Just didn't want to spend too much on trial and error to correct the issue. Thanks for the feedback CoMarc.

 

[brian2sun]

You try to take some of those stick-on rubber feet off an old VCR or stereo and glue them down where the bump stops make contact, use them as spacers.

 

[infamousRNR]

I really want to figure out a solution for this issue.

At highway speeds it seems like many people have issues with their hood flapping around

My idea was some kind of very strong magnet. I even tried to get extra bump stops and such to add to existing bump stops but I have to adjust them so much that now the hood doesn't sit flush with the fenders. It's frustrating.

Anyone else have any ideas or something they can add??

 

[habanero]

For those talking about the hood cushions....from my cute little build thread....did this last year easy peasy. Pic and part number for you.

96 4Runner

Hood Cushions part# 90541-15004 (need 2)
Unscrew old, screw in new to needed height

Hood Support Grommet part# 90480-15028
Pop out old (mine fell out), take off of hood support. Snap new into front support, then push hood support in until it's at the proper spot. It goes in kinda tight.

 

[infamousRNR]

For those talking about the hood cushions....from my cute little build thread....did this last year easy peasy. Pic and part number for you.

96 4Runner

Hood Cushions part# 90541-15004 (need 2)
Unscrew old, screw in new to needed height

Hood Support Grommet part# 90480-15028
Pop out old (mine fell out), take off of hood support. Snap new into front support, then push hood support in until it's at the proper spot. It goes in kinda tight.

So the answer is new cushions??... My old ones aren't adjusted all the way because it pushes the hood up too much...

Those good support grommets make contact with the cushions?... And plug into the hood itself?..


I'm having a hard time visualizing where those plastic pieces go

 

[volkinator]

So the answer is new cushions??... My old ones aren't adjusted all the way because it pushes the hood up too much...

Those good support grommets make contact with the cushions?... And plug into the hood itself?..


I'm having a hard time visualizing where those plastic pieces go

I've got a hard time on my hood too. It sits a little too high, and I've got 1/2" of clearance along the front. Doesn't quite follow the curve of the fender exactly.

The new cushions mentioned will help with the wobbles at speed but won't help lower your hood, and the grommet is for the hood support rod to keep it centered. It won't help with your hood when it's closed. hope that clarifies.

I've tried adjusting the hood latch on the front of the grill. I loosened the bolts and pounded it down with a deadblow and that seemed to help, I just need to go a little further... might take it out and try to slot the holes a little...

 

[habanero]

Sorry [MENTION=102606]infamousRNR[/MENTION] , I copy/pasted from my build thread in which I replaced both the hood cushions (they are like big soft screws and don't require anything additional) and the hood prop grommet because mine was broken...only one required. I was actually having an answer-fail, the original post being from 2010 and my not realizing it.

The new cushions fixed my wobble, the hood was not high in my case. I have had issues with the hood not fully latching in the past, and sticking up/wobbling a little. That was a gummy cable, you'd have prolly noticed that one quickly.

 

[Twan]

Didn't realize this was such a common issue. Those cushions are really more for aligning the hood with the fenders when it's closed. Adjusting them doesn't help with the hood fluttering issue. It seems like there's some slop in the latch itself. It's just one of those things that's low enough on my priority list that I haven't gotten around to investigating further.

 

[infamousRNR]

Didn't realize this was such a common issue. Those cushions are really more for aligning the hood with the fenders when it's closed. Adjusting them doesn't help with the hood fluttering issue. It seems like there's some slop in the latch itself. It's just one of those things that's low enough on my priority list that I haven't gotten around to investigating further.

It's really bad at highway speeds, with my super swampers, my truck is like a tank jumping around bumping up and down because it's so dark hard to keep those things balanced and after parking it for a while you can feel a noticeable spot where it sat... Like a flat spot on the tire..


Anyways, the hood flaps all over the place..

This is why I want to come up with a solution with very strong magnets or something...

It sucks they never made the hood latch adjustable...

We NEED a hood latch mod where we drill the holes and can move the match down further or something