If you want to inspect your vehicle’s engine or do any kind of work under the hood, you’ll need to know how to access it. In most cars and trucks, this is a relatively simple process. But in others, it can be a little complicated, and if you’re new to a vehicle, you may not know where to start.
This guide will cover all you need to know about how to open the hood of a Ford F150.
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How to Open the Ford F150 Hood: Step by Step
Opening an F150 hood isn’t too tricky, once you know how. But if you’ve not done it before, it can be slightly confusing. The reason being, there’s not just one single button or lever you have to press. Instead, there’s a button inside the car you press first, followed by a secondary lever just under the hood itself.
Here’s how it’s done, one step at a time:
- Find the hood release lever inside the car. In the Ford F150, this lever is on the driver’s side, down low, near the footwell and close to the door. Pull on it to release part of the latch holding the hood in place.
- Exit the vehicle and move around to the front. You won’t be able to lift the hood up yet. You’ll need to first find the secondary latch which is situated in a central location, just under the hood.
- Put your fingers under the hood, around the center, and feel around for the latch. When you find it, push it to the left. Note that on some older F150s, this lever will be lower down, beneath the grille and on the front bumper.
- This should fully release the hood, letting you lift it up. Note that the hood is pretty heavy on an F150, so you’ll probably need both hands to lift it properly.
- Lift the hood up until the cylinders lock it open. If your F150 has a prop rod, you can use it to secure the hood in place while you look or work underneath.
That’s it. When you’re ready to close the hood, just replace the prop rod (if you used it) and lower it back down. Press it down firmly to close – there’s no need to slam it.
Note: Make sure your car is parked somewhere safe and flat before popping the hood, and ensure the engine is switched off. Also, if you’ve just been driving, you may want to give your car a little time to cool down before popping the hood, as it can be extremely hot to the touch.
How to Open a Stuck F150 Hood
As you can see, it’s quite easy to open an F150 hood. But, in rare cases, you might find that the method above doesn’t work. You pull the lever by the driver’s side door, but nothing happens. In that case, it’s likely that the cable which connects that lever to the hood release mechanism has failed or broken somehow. This makes the hood almost impossible to open. But there is a solution.
- Go round to the front of the F150 (with the engine off and cool).
- Take a peek through the grille. In the middle – just above the Ford badge – you should spot the hood latch mechanism. It’s best to do this during the day for visibility, and you may still benefit from a flashlight. You’ll know it’s the latch if you see a cable extending from the right side.
- Grab a flathead screwdriver for this part. Poke it through a gap in the grille, toward the latch. You’ll then need to push the end of the screwdriver against a little bit of metal, hidden behind the front part of the latch.
- This part might take a few attempts. It can be tricky to line the screwdriver up just right. But when you feel that bit of metal, push it to the side. The latch should release, just as though you pulled the lever inside the door.
- Push the secondary lever – on the bumper or below the hood – to complete the process.
Note: This isn’t a long-term fix, just a temporary way to access your hood in an emergency. In the long run, you’ll want to have the cable either replaced or repaired. That will allow you to use the lever to pop your hood any time, without having to resort to this somewhat tricky screwdriver technique.
Open Your F150 Hood with Ease
The next time you need to open the F150 hood, just remember the two crucial steps listed above. First, pull the lever. Then, move the secondary latch to the left side. It’s as simple as that. If, for some reason, your hood still fails to open, you may have to visit a dealership for professional assistance. Alternatively, if you’re struggling to find the secondary latch, check your owner’s manual for detailed diagrams.
Still could not open the hood. The illustration was not graphic enough. I felt all around and did not encounter anything I could lift up.
COME ON man, feel the center piece on car that the hook shaped lever closes on ,, once you feel that move your fingers as far left as possible, and push up and to the left and, use a little force with fingers and it will open it’s a heavy hood BIG TRUCK OK??? whola …
Looking for the hood release bracket that the handle attaches too I broke bottom tab off 2017 f150
Ford directions suck, says release inside latch walk around to front and lift hood. makes no reference to secondary release.
went online – one set of instructions say move secondary release right, another move left, another move up. none work. I’m about ready for the saws-all