Replacing hood hinges
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 8,818
Likes: 468
From: Taxachusetts
I suggest you fix it sooner than later. I procrastinated fixing the problem when one one hinge was not working as I was still able to open the hood carefully. Once the other side goes it becomes a two person job to open the hood. Not ideal when you need to get under the hood in a jamb.
I'll confirm that as well.
Once both my hinges went, it required two people to close the hood. Not ideal if you ever find yourself needing to pop the hood unexpectedly.
To close the hood, one person had to hold it at a 45 degree angle and work it up and down slightly while the other person pressed down and in at each hinge location to kinda push them back in towards the car.
Registered User
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 334
Likes: 7
From: New Britain CT USA
My passenger side hinge tightened up a couple of years ago. Like Mustang, I bought on OEM hinge and painted it. I prelubed the hinge with DuPont Krytox oil. I had it in an aerosol can and sprayed the other hinge without any disassembly. The oil is like liquid Teflon and the carrier solvent wicks the oil into the tightest openings. So far the hinges work like new.
I've also restored door hinges that were so tight that the car body flexed when the door was opened or closed.
I've also restored door hinges that were so tight that the car body flexed when the door was opened or closed.
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 8,818
Likes: 468
From: Taxachusetts
Got this done today along with some other routine maintainence.
Pretty easy job. I should have done this a long time ago.
Install is pretty straightforward. Remove the battery cover on passenger side. (4x) 10mm bolts along the top of the fender, (1x) 10mm bolt inside the door jamb (open door all the way and keep it open throughout the process), (2x) 12mm bolts down by the headlight in the composite panel.
After that, you can pull the fender out just far enough to reach the (2x) 12mm bolts holding the hindge to the fender and then it's (2x) 12mm nuts attaching the hinge to the hood.
Was pretty easy to do and I did it solo. Aligning the hood was pretty easy as well. I used the old paint marks left by the original hinge as a reference and snugged up the nuts and carefull lowered the hood down. I NEVER remove the hood off the car and did one side at a time. Pretty much got it lined up right instantly.
Took about 1 hr to do this job taking my time, sipping a beer and watching football.
Now need to remember to lube them all the time. BTW, i forget how light the OEM hood is when the hinges aren't seized up. I almost threw the hood over the car.
Here's the original hinge on top. You can see where it's bending. I couldn't work the hinge at all by hand and i'm a pretty strong guy.
My paintjob is better too.
I haven't been able to open the hood fully in a LOOOONG time. I forgot it even said "Front midship" on the liner because I haven't seen it in so long!
Pretty easy job. I should have done this a long time ago.
Install is pretty straightforward. Remove the battery cover on passenger side. (4x) 10mm bolts along the top of the fender, (1x) 10mm bolt inside the door jamb (open door all the way and keep it open throughout the process), (2x) 12mm bolts down by the headlight in the composite panel.
After that, you can pull the fender out just far enough to reach the (2x) 12mm bolts holding the hindge to the fender and then it's (2x) 12mm nuts attaching the hinge to the hood.
Was pretty easy to do and I did it solo. Aligning the hood was pretty easy as well. I used the old paint marks left by the original hinge as a reference and snugged up the nuts and carefull lowered the hood down. I NEVER remove the hood off the car and did one side at a time. Pretty much got it lined up right instantly.
Took about 1 hr to do this job taking my time, sipping a beer and watching football.
Now need to remember to lube them all the time. BTW, i forget how light the OEM hood is when the hinges aren't seized up. I almost threw the hood over the car.
Here's the original hinge on top. You can see where it's bending. I couldn't work the hinge at all by hand and i'm a pretty strong guy.
My paintjob is better too.
I haven't been able to open the hood fully in a LOOOONG time. I forgot it even said "Front midship" on the liner because I haven't seen it in so long!
Last edited by Mustang5L5; Oct 12, 2014 at 08:14 PM.
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Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 8,818
Likes: 468
From: Taxachusetts
Eh, I don't have the energy or time to devote to a projector retrofit.
At 150K miles, I'm just maintaining and repairing...too late to mod.
I am looking at wheels though...
At 150K miles, I'm just maintaining and repairing...too late to mod.
I am looking at wheels though...
I wanna retrojector some 04 coupe lights. Seems like such a project tho. I'm afraid I'll get halfway done and then two years later finish it or just sell the parts. But you know..100% chance of selling parts and 0% chance of finishing. Haha
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 8,818
Likes: 468
From: Taxachusetts
If I could find another clear pair of 05-06 headlights I would do it. But the prob is finding those headlight and then setting aside the time to do it.
Right now my current projects are not car related. Trying to put together a reef tank
Right now my current projects are not car related. Trying to put together a reef tank
Registered User
Joined: Jul 2019
Posts: 1
Likes: 0
its 03 G35 sedan thats fully loaded
It's a DIY job. You need to take out a couple bolts off the fender, including the one behind to door, to pull the fender out a bit to access the hinge bolts. It is not difficult at all, just close the hood slowly until you get the alignment right.
Edit: Obviously you want a second set of hands to help uninstall and install the hood.
Edit: Obviously you want a second set of hands to help uninstall and install the hood.
Does the hood perfectly line up with the fenders? Did you try adjusting the hood latch on the radiator support?
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