Buy Chevrolet (Chevy) Caprice Hood Latch

The hood latch on a Chevrolet Caprice-sometimes called a hood lock, bonnet latch or hood catch-keeps the hood closed while you drive and lets you "pop" it open for service. It uses a primary spring-loaded latch, a cable that runs to the inside handle, and a backup safety catch so the hood cannot fly up if the first part fails. Every Caprice, from the classic 1965 models through the 1996 B-body sedan and the later police-package Caprice PPV, relies on this simple but vital mechanism. (Wikipedia, eCFR, Federal Register)

When you pull the release handle under the dash, the cable tugs the primary latch hook free so the hood jumps up an inch. You then reach under the front edge to move the secondary safety catch aside before lifting the hood the rest of the way. This two-step design is required by the federal safety rule FMVSS 113. (eCFR, Federal Register)

A working latch has three main pieces:

• Primary hook-holds the striker bar on the hood.
• Secondary (safety) catch-stops the hood if the primary hook slips. (mtaeta.info)
• Release cable & interior handle-lets the driver open the hood from inside. (OneMonroe)

• 1965-1990 "box" Caprice and 1991-1996 rounded-body Caprice share similar stamped-steel latch housings, but brackets and cable lengths differ year-to-year. (Impala SS Forum)
• 2011-2017 Caprice PPV (Australian-built Holden WM/WN) uses a metric-thread striker and a separate front crash sensor on the latch bracket. (Wikipedia)
• All trims-Classic, 9C1 police, wagon-use the same release geometry so the opening process is identical. (Wikipedia)

• Stuck hood-handle feels loose and hood won't pop; often a stretched or broken cable. (YouTube, Impala SS Forum)
• Hood pops up while driving-primary hook not fully engaged or rusted; safety catch usually saves the day. (Reddit, NHTSA)
• Handle is hard to pull-dirt or dried grease inside the latch; common on high-miles police cars. (YouTube)

1. Clean the latch with mild degreaser every oil change.
2. Brush on light chassis grease where the hook meets the striker. Avoid thick grease in winter climates-it can stiffen. (OneMonroe)
3. Check that the safety catch snaps back by flicking it with a finger; replace weak springs right away. (SAE International)

• Unbolt the old latch (two 13 mm bolts) from the radiator support. Keep alignment marks so the new part centers the hood. (Impala SS Forum)
• Slide the cable grommet out of the firewall, then snake the new cable through the inner fender to the cabin handle. A helper feeding the cable makes the job faster. (Impala SS Forum)
• Before closing the hood, pull the handle twice to prove both latches release cleanly. Drop the hood from 12 inches-if it bounces, raise the striker height ¼-turn and try again. (YouTube)

• A 2022 safety recall (NHTSA 22V640) instructed dealers to swap hood striker and latch assemblies on selected GM full-size sedans to prevent fracture of untreated metal. (NHTSA)
• Earlier GM bulletins also warned that replacement hoods installed after collision repair might have improperly heat-treated latch striker welds. (Asbury Automotive)
• The U.S. rule FMVSS 113 has required a secondary catch since the early-1970s to keep the hood from blocking a driver's view. (eCFR, NTEA, Federal Register)

Owners restoring show cars often bead-blast and zinc-plate the latch for rust protection or swap to a polished stainless striker pin. Track-day drivers sometimes add hood pins, but remember to keep the factory safety catch so you stay legal. (SAE International)

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Q: What does the hood latch do?
A: It locks the hood closed so it can't bounce open and it lets you open the hood safely in two steps. (OneMonroe)

Q: Why are there two latches?
A: U.S. safety rules demand a secondary catch so the hood can't block your view if the main hook fails. (eCFR, Federal Register)

Q: My Caprice handle is floppy-now what?
A: The release cable is probably stretched or snapped; replace it with a new cable of the same length. (Impala SS Forum)

Q: How often should I grease the latch?
A: Every six months or at each oil change; light grease keeps rust away and action smooth. (OneMonroe)

Q: The hood won't line up after latch swap-why?
A: The latch mount may be off-center; loosen the bolts, tap the latch slightly left or right, then retighten. (Impala SS Forum)

Q: Did Chevrolet issue recalls for hood latches?
A: Yes, GM recalled certain sedans in 2022 to change weak striker wires in the latch. (NHTSA)

Q: Can I add hood pins and keep the factory latch?
A: Yes-pins add security, but do not remove the secondary catch; it's still required by law. (SAE International)