| Under The Hood |
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Some car hoods have hydraulic cylinders or large springs at the back corners to hold the hood up while you’re peering inside. Many have a support rod that will hold the hood in place. The rod will be laying down somewhere around the perimeter of the engine compartment. One end will be attached to the car and the other can be lifted and inserted in a specially designed hole in the hood’s edge. If you’re not sure where the rod is located on your car, check the owner’s manual. Car Words What’s in a name? In the United States, the engine compartment cover is called a hood. In Britain it’s called a bonnet. Two countries, separated by a common language! Now what? There are a number of quick visual checks you can make. Once you’ve learned more about your car you’ll know where things are and specifically what problems to look for. For example, you may notice that the battery looks gunky, suggesting that the terminals should be cleaned so it doesn’t lose power. Or you see that there is a lot of oil sitting on top of the engine and figure out that the oil cap is not on tightly.
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You previously pulled the hood release handle inside your car before stepping out. Now you are at the front (or rear) of the car and can unlatch the hood for a quick inspection of the engine compartment. If you’ve never tried this before, the latch is a lever under the center of the hood that you push or pull. Its job is to make sure that your car’s hood doesn’t pop open while you’re driving—not fun!
