# Scared to open car hood **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [April 30, 2015, 6:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scared-to-open-car-hood/718913 "2015-04-30T18:11:22Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Frank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Frank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frank)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2015, 11:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scared-to-open-car-hood/718913/41 "2015-05-01T11:10:22Z")
> [@sara20](#): > > It is a 2011 honda accord. I also need to know after I pop the hood how to disengage the locking catch at the front of the hood to open it fully. You have to reach in under the hood (at center, or just off center), and press up on the release lever, then hold it while you pull the hood up a couple of inches. Make sure you have a good grip. Here’s a [video](http://www.carcarekiosk.com/video/2011_Honda_Accord_LX_2.4L_4_Cyl./hood/open_the_hood). This includes showing the spot you need to put the rod in to hold the hood up. I’m a little amazed at the people who act like this is the simplest thing in the world, and that there is no excuse for not knowing it. We don’t pop out of the womb knowing how to open a car hood; we have to be taught. ---
**Author:** ![not\_what\_you\_d\_expect](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/not_what_you_d_expect/32/3246_2.png) [@not\_what\_you\_d\_expect](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/not_what_you_d_expect)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2015, 11:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scared-to-open-car-hood/718913/42 "2015-05-01T11:24:08Z")
I do it myself in my current car, but there was a time when I couldn’t figure out how to open the hood in one car I owned. So I went to an auto parts store and asked the guy at the counter for help. He seemed happy to help, so I bought the fluid from him and he showed me how to do it. ---
**Author:** ![QuickSilver](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quicksilver/32/7832_2.png) [@QuickSilver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/QuickSilver)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2015, 11:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scared-to-open-car-hood/718913/43 "2015-05-01T11:25:01Z")
> [@sara20](#): > > It is a 2011 honda accord. I also need to know after I pop the hood how to disengage the locking catch at the front of the hood to open it fully. Easier to just trade this one in and buy a new one with all the fluids topped up. ---
**Author:** ![DrFidelius](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/drfidelius/32/3447_2.png) [@DrFidelius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrFidelius)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2015, 11:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scared-to-open-car-hood/718913/44 "2015-05-01T11:31:08Z")
> [@johnpost](#): > > read your car owners manual, it has lots of important stuff. your car and maybe your life depend on it. > > there will be in a maintenance section how to open and secure the hood, where to put washer fluid and how to close and secure the hood. The owners manual is that book which no one reads. This book is so expensive they give you a free car with it. ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2015, 11:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scared-to-open-car-hood/718913/45 "2015-05-01T11:35:12Z")
> [@Frank](#): > > I’m a little amazed at the people who act like this is the simplest thing in the world, and that there is no excuse for not knowing it. We don’t pop out of the womb knowing how to open a car hood; we have to be taught. We didn’t pop out of the womb knowing how to drive, either. If you are going to drive a car, some basic maintenance knowledge is required: how to check the oil, how to check tire pressure, that sort of thing. Someone must have taught her how to drive; did it just not come up? ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2015, 11:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scared-to-open-car-hood/718913/46 "2015-05-01T11:39:23Z")
> [@DrFidelius](#): > > The owners manual is that book which no one reads. This book is so expensive they give you a free car with it. My 2014 Jeep Wrangler came with a minimal owner’s manual and a DVD. I actually watched parts of the DVD to learn the correct way to lower/raise the soft top. ---
**Author:** ![Frank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Frank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frank)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2015, 11:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scared-to-open-car-hood/718913/47 "2015-05-01T11:45:50Z")
> [@Fear\_Itself](#): > > We didn’t pop out of the womb knowing how to drive, either. If you are going to drive a car, some basic maintenance knowledge is required: how to check the oil, how to check tire pressure, that sort of thing. Someone must have taught her how to drive; did it just not come up? Obviously it didn’t come up. Obviously, for whatever reason, the OP has never until now had the need to open a car hood. It’s certainly not required to know how to do anything to the car to drive it. If someone else has always taken care of the routine maintenance (a relative, a mechanic at the auto shop, whatever), the OP needs to know nothing. I applaud to OP for wanting to learn this (and next she can learn how to check the oil 🙂 ), and I think the snark in this thread is completely unnecessary. ---
**Author:** ![sara20](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e79b87/32.png) [@sara20](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sara20)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2015, 11:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scared-to-open-car-hood/718913/48 "2015-05-01T11:50:12Z")
> [@Frank](#): > > You have to reach in under the hood (at center, or just off center), and press up on the release lever, then hold it while you pull the hood up a couple of inches. Make sure you have a good grip. > > Here’s a [video](http://www.carcarekiosk.com/video/2011_Honda_Accord_LX_2.4L_4_Cyl./hood/open_the_hood). This includes showing the spot you need to put the rod in to hold the hood up. > > I’m a little amazed at the people who act like this is the simplest thing in the world, and that there is no excuse for not knowing it. We don’t pop out of the womb knowing how to open a car hood; we have to be taught. Once you disengage the release lever if you raise it up a couple inches and it slips out of your hand, does it go back to the default position of being partly open and catch on the release lever or will it slam down on your fingers? ---
**Author:** ![GrumpyBunny](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/bc8723/32.png) [@GrumpyBunny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GrumpyBunny)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2015, 11:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scared-to-open-car-hood/718913/49 "2015-05-01T11:54:05Z")
> [@Machine\_Elf](#): > > It doesn’t correlate with model year, but it does seem to correlate with sticker price. Cheaper cars go with a prop rod, pricier cars are more likely to be fitted with hinge springs or gas struts that bear the weight of the hood. Whoo-hoo! I have a pricier car! (It’s a Hyundai Santa Fe.) 😃 ---
**Author:** ![GrumpyBunny](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/bc8723/32.png) [@GrumpyBunny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GrumpyBunny)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2015, 11:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scared-to-open-car-hood/718913/50 "2015-05-01T11:56:59Z")
> [@sara20](#): > > Once you disengage the release lever if you raise it up a couple inches and it slips out of your hand, does it go back to the default position of being partly open and catch on the release lever or will it slam down on your fingers? I’ve been handling checking my own oil and putting in coolant and washer fluid since I was 17. I’ve driven everything from a boxy 1972 Volvo to my newest car, the Hyundai mentioned above. Which is all a setup to tell you that I never had a hood slam down on my fingers. And I’m a klutz. ---
**Author:** ![Frank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Frank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frank)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2015, 11:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scared-to-open-car-hood/718913/51 "2015-05-01T11:57:44Z")
> [@sara20](#): > > Once you disengage the release lever if you raise it up a couple inches and it slips out of your hand, does it go back to the default position of being partly open and catch on the release lever or will it slam down on your fingers? If you’ve raised it high enough, it can slam down on your fingers, depending on the setup. (From the video, it looked to me like this is not an issue with your car. It appeared that the hand holding the latch goes up with the hood.) You do need to be careful and have a good grip. It’s not as likely to happen as you seem to think. There are lots of everyday parts of life that can hurt you if you’re not careful. This is just another one of those. Don’t get me started on how dangerous cooking is! ---
**Author:** ![QuickSilver](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quicksilver/32/7832_2.png) [@QuickSilver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/QuickSilver)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2015, 11:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scared-to-open-car-hood/718913/52 "2015-05-01T11:58:10Z")
Do you have this much trouble with the oven door too? ---
**Author:** ![lieu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c2a13f/32.png) [@lieu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lieu)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2015, 12:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scared-to-open-car-hood/718913/53 "2015-05-01T12:27:15Z")
**sara** , if you’re worried about getting your fingers caught, when you first unlatch the hood slide in a small piece of wood (or the like) a couple of inches high to prevent it from closing and then lift it the rest of the way. ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2015, 12:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scared-to-open-car-hood/718913/54 "2015-05-01T12:41:34Z")
[2011 Accord Engine bay](http://images.thecarconnection.com/lrg/2011-honda-accord-crosstour-2wd-5dr-ex-engine_100335049_l.jpg), now, where to put this wiper fluid? Hint: It doesn’t go in the AC lines. ---
**Author:** ![Machine\_Elf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/82dd89/32.png) [@Machine\_Elf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Machine_Elf)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2015, 12:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scared-to-open-car-hood/718913/55 "2015-05-01T12:45:14Z")
> [@sara20](#): > > It is a 2011 honda accord. I also need to know after I pop the hood how to disengage the locking catch at the front of the hood to open it fully. If you can’t find the owner’s manual in your glovebox, the PDF version for your 2011 Honda Accord can be viewed [here.](https://www.youtube.com/watch?annotation_id=annotation_122278&feature=iv&src_vid=VXJZVZFRFJc&v=mXI4WWhPn-U) Hood release information is on page 300. Page 301 has information about how to keep the hood up once you’ve raised it: if you’ve got a 4-cylinder engine, you’ll be using a prop-rod, but if you’ve got a V6 engine, then the hood has built-in gas struts so it will stay up by itself once you lift it past about halfway. The instructions include illustrations showing you exactly where the release levers are and exactly how to use the prop rod (if you’ve got one). The detail in the pictures can be hard to see if you’re viewing the entire manual page at once on your computer screen. If you zoom in so that each picture takes up the entire screen, you can see all the detail that shows you exactly how the hood release latch (under the front of the hood) moves, and exactly how the prop rod sticks into the hood to hold it up. ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2015, 12:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scared-to-open-car-hood/718913/56 "2015-05-01T12:48:18Z")
The car is clearly defective. Return it to the dealer. ---
**Author:** ![AnaMen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dfb087/32.png) [@AnaMen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AnaMen)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2015, 12:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scared-to-open-car-hood/718913/57 "2015-05-01T12:49:38Z")
If you are terrified to open the hood of your own car, you probably shouldn’t be driving. ---
**Author:** ![jz78817](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jz78817/32/1028_2.png) [@jz78817](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jz78817)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2015, 1:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scared-to-open-car-hood/718913/58 "2015-05-01T13:24:05Z")
“Today’s cars are the most complex, sophisticated machines ever to be placed in the hands of inexpert operators.” - Richard Parry-Jones ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2015, 1:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scared-to-open-car-hood/718913/59 "2015-05-01T13:39:01Z")
In case you have doubts, opening the trunk is much easier! ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2015, 1:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scared-to-open-car-hood/718913/60 "2015-05-01T13:59:11Z")
> [@Dewey\_Finn](#): > > What **sara20** might want to do is to find a friend who is reasonably savvy about auto maintenance and ask them to show her how to add windshield washer fluid, how to check the oil level and other fluid levels and perhaps also how to jump-start the car and change the tire. Another idea. Drive into the service department of the local Honda dealer, preferably when it’s relatively quiet. Explain that you want someone to explain how to open the hood and add washer fluid. They will probably take the time to explain how to check the various fluids, where the fuse compartment is and so forth. Your car is four years old, so they may think you might soon be in the market for a new car. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scared-to-open-car-hood/718913.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/scared-to-open-car-hood/718913.md?page=4)