you could run hoodless for a couple of weeks. try to avoid thunderstorms
and bad nieghbors.
call some salvage yards. the chances of finding a pre97 with a front end
collsion are good enough that you'll be able to find some good hinges.
mm
----- Original Message -----
From: "Jon" <jonsdak@midmaine.com>
To: <dakota-truck-moderator@bent.twistedbits.net>
Sent: Tuesday, August 20, 2002 2:41 PM
Subject: DML: Please help! '96 Dakota hood latch failure?
>
> Driving down the road, 3/4 of a mile from my house this morning, 50mph,
> suddenly my windshield is black. My hood has flown up!
> I manage to safely bring the truck to a stop, ease it off the road. I get
> out, and the hood hinges on the back are all bent out of shape, I muscle
the
> hood down so I could see to limp to my grandparents, 300yd down the road.
> Once I'm there, I inspect it further, and the right edge of the hood now
> sits on the fender. Is there a recall on these latches, or is it a fluke?
> I had just vacuumed the truck out before this, and I thought I might have
> hit the latch release with my elbow when vacuuming the t-case/driveshaft
> hump, but the lever, to disengagae, tilts to the left, and takes quite a
bit
> of muscle to pull (as anyone with a '96 Dak, or maybe even a Ram, knows),
so
> I can't believe that I could just bump it enough to disengage the latch
> without knowing it, especially on the elbow, a sensitive spot. Even if I
> had, though, shouldn't the underhood latch kept it shut? It probably
would
> have rattled (that was another thing, it didn't rattle at all before it
flew
> up), but I would think that the latch should have kept it from flying up
> like that. This latch is in perfect condition, on inspection. My biggest
> problem is, the hinges are bent, I can't close my hood, and I need my
truck
> for the rest of this week for work, and then next week for school, and my
> Dodge stealer needs to special-order the hinges, which will take two
weeks,
> they say. I can't be truckless for two weeks.
> Any info or ideas well appreciated!
>
> --
> Later,
> Jon
> jonsdak@midmaine.com
> http://jonsdakota.tripod.com
> 1996 Dodge Dakota Sport 4X4, 3.9L V6, 42RE, 3.92:1 8.25 axle, "BackRack"
> Headache Rack, Dodge Motorsports decals, steering wheel cover, and front
> license plate, diamond-plate bedrail covers, Lund VentVisors, Lund
> BugShield, Jensen MP-3310 CD/MP3 Receiver, Pioneer TS-G1347's in front,
> TS-A5713's in rear
>
>
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