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Opening the hood of your car can be essential for routine checks or emergencies. How to do this is essential knowledge for every vehicle owner.
It’s that simple: Opening the hood on your car
If you want to check the oil level or top up the windshield wiper fluid you need to open the hood of your car. This only requires a few simple steps. The appearance and location of the levers may differ, but they are usually very similar.
- First you need to unlock the hood. There is a lever marked with an engine symbol inside the vehicle, usually under the dashboard on the driver’s side (often at the bottom left). Pull this lever towards you to unlock the hood. You will find information on the location of the lever in your respective handbook.
- After you have pulled the interior lever, you will hear a slight click and the hood will spring open slightly. However, it remains secured by a safety latch.
- Go to the front of the car and reach under the center of the hood. There you will find another small lever that acts as a safety mechanism. This prevents the hood from opening while you are driving. Push or pull the lever while lifting the hood slightly.
- Once you have operated this small lever, you can open the hood. To prevent it from falling down again while you are working in the engine compartment, you will find a folding fastening bar on the side. This is inserted into a hole in the underside and holds the hood open. Newer cars often have a hydraulic support.
- To close the hood, do not lower it slowly onto the latch, but allow it to close in a controlled manner from a height of around 20-30 cm. This is the only way to ensure that the latch engages correctly.
The locking mechanism in detail
The locking mechanism of a hood consists of two stages:
- Primary locking – It is released via the lever in the vehicle interior and ensures that the hood pops open easily in the first place.
- Secondary locking (safety latch) – It is located under the hood and prevents the hood from opening fully while driving. The hood can only be fully raised when this lever is released.
- In many vehicles, the latch is operated by a Bowden cable, similar to a bicycle brake cable. Some newer models use electric unlocking systems or particularly smooth-running mechanisms.
Differences for different car brands
As the position of the lever varies, especially depending on the country, it is always worth taking a quick look at the vehicle manual to avoid long searches.
- German manufacturers (e.g. VW, BMW, Mercedes-Benz): The interior lever is almost always at the bottom left, near the door frame. The safety latch is located centrally at the front.
- Japanese manufacturers (e.g. Toyota, Honda, Mazda): Here, too, the lever is often located at the bottom left, although the safety lever is sometimes offset to the side.
- US manufacturers (e.g. Ford, Chevrolet): The lever in the interior can sometimes also be located in the center console or glove compartment area.
Important safety instructions
There are a few things you should be aware of when opening the hood.
- Never open the hood directly after a long journey – the engine can be very hot. There is a risk of burns!
- Only work at the roadside with hazard warning lights switched on and, if possible with a warning triangle and high-visibility vest.
- Make sure that the hood is securely supported before reaching into the engine compartment.
