Chrysler Town, Dodge Caravan. Manual - part 449

INSTALLATION

(1) Place hood in position on vehicle. With assis-

tance from a helper at the opposite side of the vehicle
to support the hood, install bottom bolts attaching
hood to hinge finger tight.

(2) Install top bolts attaching hood to hinge finger

tight.

(3) Position bolts at marks and tighten. Tighten

bolts to 13.5 N·m (120 in. lbs.) torque. The hood
should be aligned to 4 mm (0.160 in.) gap to the front
fenders and flush across the top surfaces along fend-
ers.

(4) Verify hood operation and alignment.

LATCH

REMOVAL

(1) Release hood latch and open hood.
(2) Remove bolts attaching hood latch to radiator

closure panel crossmember (Fig. 3).

(3) Remove hood latch from crossmember.
(4) Disconnect hood release cable from hood latch

(Fig. 4).

(5) Remove hood latch from vehicle.

INSTALLATION

(1) Position hood latch on vehicle.
(2) Connect hood release cable from hood latch.
(3) Position hood latch on crossmember.
(4) Align hood latch by placing latch over net

pierced tabs. If alignment is required, flatten or
grind tabs.

(5) Verify hood operation and alignment. Adjust as

necessary.

(6) Tighten attaching bolts to 13.5 N·m (10 ft. lbs.)

torque.

LATCH RELEASE CABLE

REMOVAL

(1) Remove hood latch.
(2) Disengage cable end from hood latch locking

mechanism.

(3) Slide cable case end sideways in keyhole slot of

hood latch while pinching barb on cable case closed.

(4) Remove cable from latch (Fig. 4).
(5) Remove hood release handle from instrument

panel.

(6) Disengage

rubber

grommet

cable

insulator

from hole in dash panel.

(7) Attach a suitable length of mechanic’s wire to

latch end of cable to assist cable installation.

Fig. 2 HOOD

1 - HOOD
2 - HOOD LATCH STRIKER
3 - HOOD HALF OF HOOD HINGE

Fig. 3 HOOD LATCH

1 - HOOD RELEASE CABLE
2 - HOOD LATCH
3 - RADIATOR CLOSURE PANEL CROSSMEMBER

Fig. 4 HOOD

1 - RELEASE CABLE CASE
2 - HOOD LATCH
3 - RELEASE CABLE END

23 - 60

HOOD

HOOD (Continued)

(8) Route cable back from latch through engine

compartment toward dash panel near power brake
booster (Fig. 5).

(9) Remove attaching clips from cable case.
(10) From inside vehicle, pull cable through dash

panel until mechanic’s wire is exposed.

(11) Disconnect cable from mechanic’s wire.
(12) Remove hood release cable from vehicle.

INSTALLATION

(1) Place hood release cable in position under

instrument panel.

(2) Attach latch end of hood release cable to

mechanic’s wire protruding through dash panel.

(3) Route cable forward through engine compart-

ment toward latch by pulling on mechanic’s wire
(Fig. 5).

(4) Disconnect mechanic’s wire from cable.
(5) Engage rubber grommet cable insulator into

hole in dash panel.

(6) Install hood release handle into instrument

panel.

(7) Place cable in position on latch.
(8) Slide cable case end sideways into keyhole slot

of hood latch.

(9) Engage cable end into hood latch locking mech-

anism.

(10) Install hood latch.
(11) Install attaching clips to cable case and install

clips into original holes in strut tower, fender, head-
lamp area, and radiator closure panel crossmember.

LATCH STRIKER

REMOVAL

(1) Release hood latch and open hood.
(2) Remove bolts attaching striker to inside of

hood.

(3) Remove hood latch striker from vehicle.

INSTALLATION

(1) Position hood latch striker on vehicle.
(2) Install bolts attaching hood latch striker to

hood.

(3) Align hood latch striker to engage smoothly

into hood latch.

(4) Verify hood operation and alignment. Adjust as

necessary.

(5) Tighten attaching bolts to 13.5 N·m (10 ft. lbs.)

torque.

Fig. 5 HOOD RELEASE CABLE ROUTING

1 - GROMMET
2 - HOOD RELEASE CABLE
3 - RADIATOR CLOSURE PANEL CROSSMEMBER

HOOD

23 - 61

LATCH RELEASE CABLE (Continued)

INSTRUMENT PANEL

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