Hood won't latch - broken support bracket?
 

So I was filling up my wife's washer fluid last week since another snow storm was heading our way (MA) and I go to shut the hood and it won't latch. Tried it again and slammed it and nothing. Then I see the small support bar (lock bracket?) that goes from the latch to the lower radiator support was broken at the bottom. Looks like it just rusted right out. I ordered a new part, it was about 20 bucks. I just received it in the mail and its so thin, which is why this happened in the first place.

Not sure if this link will work, but its item #6 that I need to replace:

http://www.parts.com/oemcatalog/inde...layCatalogid=0

Anyways, has anyone replaced this themselves? Any advice? Seems like I'll need to remove the bumper cover since the grille is molded into the bumper. I did a quick search to remove the bumper but didn't see any pics. Of course I have to get it inspected this month too..I currently have a ratchet tie down from the hood to the tow hook as a temp fix. Its behind the bumper so you can't see it lol grrrr road salt!

...bump...anyone?

You should be able to get to all the bolts through the grill or from the top. They're all 10mm. Be careful and disconnect the battery, the airbag sensor is the one with the yellow connector and is in the way of a bolt or 2. Use a penetrating oil on all the bolts. They all have locktight on them so they will be difficult to unscrew. Just clean all the threads before reassembly.

Thanks for the info. I attempted to loosen them without removing the bumper, but the problem is without the latch support, the whole latch mounting flange is twisting so I can't really get any leverage on it.

That's because of all the lock tite. I had the same problem when I installed my Hella horns behind my grill. I loosened and tightened bolt over and over to break up the locktite. Try using a small visegrip to hold the the metal together as you turn the bolts.

Pull the bumper cover. It becomes very easy at that point. Its not that hard to remove the cover, maybe a 10 minute if that exercise?

I had to adjust that part and ended up pulling the cover to make it way easier and prevent me from gashing up my hands.

I think my best option is to remove the bumper cover. Any tips on removing that cover? Just quickly looking at it I see the 4 clips above the grille, 8 or so clips under the bumper for the splash shields but was curious where the clips/screws are for the sides? Any help would be greatly appreciated! Thanks again.

There are two 10mm bolts attaching the fender to the bumper cover. One is at the wheelwell edge, the other is just above the marker light.

Yes on the above comment. I will have access to my ESM this evening should you run into trouble. Its really easy.

Accessible from the INSIDE of the engine bay if my memory serves me correctly.

The foglights aren't attached to the cover are they? Also, rvamaxima mentioned the airbag sensor...that has to be mounted on the bumper frame not the cover right? Sorry for all the questions, I'm going to try and repair this on Saturday.

Fogs are attach to bumper cover, no need to remove them. Just disconnect them from harness. Airbag sensor is attached to hood latch assembly, not the cover.

Gotcha...thanks!

Agreed on both accounts.

I actually thought my hood didn't latch.. but after a while I realized I just had to let it drop from about a foot and let the weight of the hood do the work

I did the same thing at first....but after the 20th attempt I knew something had to be wrong! haha