How to remove and replace the hood on a Jeep Cherokee.

How to remove and replace the hood on a Jeep Cherokee.

Open the hood and sit it on the prop rod. Place a block of wood or something like it over the hood latches at the header. This will prevent the hood from accidentally latching if it is accidentally closed during the process.

Remove the hood release cable from its clips under the hood. Pry the end of the cable up out of the release bracket. Rotate the cable 90 degrees form where it goes in and slide it up out of the mechanism. You can pry down slightly on the mechanism to get enough room to release the cable.

Get an assistant to help handle the hood. Loosen the four 13 mm head bolts that hold the hood to the hinges. Remove and keep track of the shims under each side. Place one hand under the point of the hood to keep it off the cowl and remove the bolts with the other hand while your assistant does the same on the other side. Carefully lift the hood off the Jeep.

To replace the hood, have an assistant help align the hood over the hinges. Start the four bolts into place. Place the shim pack between the hinge and the hood. It may be helpful tot tape the shims together to get them in with one hand. Note the paint mark left by the old bolt on the hinge. Align the bolt with the old mark and tighten all four bolts evenly.

Warning! Do not test the fit of the hood before attaching the release cable!

Reattach the hood release cable. Slip the end of the cable in the slot in the mechanism. Snap the end of the cable in the slot. Place the cable in the clips under the hood. Test the release action before closing the hood.

Adjust the fit of the hood as necessary by loosening the bolts at the hinge and repositioning the hood. To raise and lower the rear of the hood, add or remove shims at the hinge as needed. To adjust the height of the hood at the front, the hood latches must be adjusted. They too are adjusted with shims, but the front header must be removed to access the bolts for the hood latches.