Eliminating Hood Latch Squeaks

[2vmodular]

A common problem with these cars when you get some mileage on the odometer is for the hood latch to start making high pitched squeaking sounds. A couple popular repair solutions are to periodically apply grease to the hood latch or wrap electrical tape around the hood latch striker. These are short term solutions and your the noises will return a short while later.

For a more permanent solution to this problem, you can replace the hood latch striker with a new one from your local ford dealership for around $20. This will also stop the front of your hood from vibrating up & down on the highway.

The part number you want to order for the 2003-2004 mercury marauders is 6W1Z-16K689-A

http://images12.fotki.com/v237/photos/8/42438/8903683/PICT6232-vi.jpg
This part is used on production 2006+ crownvics and is backwards compatible with the 2003-2004 mercury marauders
http://images112.fotki.com/v600/photos/8/42438/8903683/PICT6258-vi.jpg
Here's the old hood latch striker attached to my 1998 crownvic's hood
http://images12.fotki.com/v200/photos/8/42438/8903683/PICT6261-vi.jpg
The hood after removing the three 8mm head bolts and striker assembly
http://images19.fotki.com/v207/photos/8/42438/8903683/PICT6269-vi.jpg
The bolts
http://images19.fotki.com/v193/photos/8/42438/8903683/PICT6276-vi.jpg
The new striker is on the left, the old one on the right.
http://images56.fotki.com/v1601/photos/8/42438/8903683/PICT6287-vi.jpg
http://images54.fotki.com/v544/photos/8/42438/8903683/PICT6294-vi.jpg
The new hood latch striker installed on my 1998 crownvic's hood
http://images54.fotki.com/v451/photos/8/42438/8903683/PICT6307-vi.jpg
A couple closeup pictures of the wear on the old hood latch striker
http://images9.fotki.com/v1617/photos/8/42438/8903683/PICT6315-vi.jpg

http://images112.fotki.com/v590/photos/8/42438/8903683/PICT6325-vi.jpg
Overall, i'm really happy with this $20 repair. The hood doesn't vibrate up & down on the highway anymore. The hood pops up more quickly and with more force when i pull on the release cable. And the hood latch squeaking sounds should be gone for years to come.

Here's a link to more pictures of this project:

http://www.p71interceptor.com/hoodstriker/

[fastblackmerc]

Looks exactly like my hood striker assembly. What is different with this one? Did you know you can also add hood bumpers along the sides of the hood? There is a Ford P/N in a post. I believe the bumpers are from a Ranger or a Lincoln.

[2vmodular]

the big problem with the hood latch striker is that metal has worn away allowing the hood to move around when it shouldn't


Looks exactly like my hood striker assembly. What is different with this one? Did you know you can also add hood bumpers along the sides of the hood? There is a Ford P/N in a post. I believe the bumpers are from a Ranger or a Lincoln.

the bright shiny areas in this picture shouldn't have notches cut into them like this

http://www.p71interceptor.com/hoodstriker/PICT6324.jpg

http://www.p71interceptor.com/hoodstriker/PICT6324-vi.jpg

http://www.p71interceptor.com/hoodstriker/PICT6325.jpg

http://www.p71interceptor.com/hoodstriker/PICT6325-vi.jpg

from a cosmetic standpoint, the differences between the 2003-2004 marauder hood latch & the one used on production 2006+ crownvics is that the striker bar is bolted onto the striker plate with the earlier ones rather than being riveted on like with the later ones

early hood latch striker assembly besides later hood latch striker assembly

http://www.p71interceptor.com/hoodstriker/PICT6287.jpg

http://www.p71interceptor.com/hoodstriker/PICT6287-vi.jpg

http://www.p71interceptor.com/hoodstriker/PICT6294.jpg

http://www.p71interceptor.com/hoodstriker/PICT6294-vi.jpg

[fastblackmerc]

Mine doesn't have the notches. I think your hood latch wasn't properly adjusted to begin with. Good info tho......


BTW... you can also put felt pads in the recessed area where the hood stops are and put some grease on them.

[2vmodular]

most of the 100k+ mile 1998+ crownvics that i've looked at have some notches cut into the hood latch striker bar that shouldn't be there. a little metal worn away doesn't seem to cause squeaking problems, but at some point you'll get enough missing that you do get problems.

another dead giveaway of a worn hood latch striker is that the front of your hood vibrates up & down a lot on the highway. when these cars were new, the front of the hood would stay relatively stationary to the header panel as you drove down the highway with a lot of air pressure pushing against the hood. when these cars get up to the 100k+ miles, you'll often find the hood moves up/down a bunch in relation to the header panel as you drive down the highway.

here's a poll that i constructed about this topic:

http://www.crownvic.net/ubbthreads/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=2096151



Mine doesn't have the notches. I think your hood latch wasn't properly adjusted to begin with. Good info tho......

[2vmodular]

i tried stopping the squeaks and vibrating hood phenomen on my 100k+ mile crownvic by adjusting those hood bumpers upwards. this didn't accomplish much except for breaking the plastic portion of one of the hood bumpers.


BTW... you can also put felt pads in the recessed area where the hood stops are and put some grease on them.

[Bluerauder]

Looks exactly like my hood striker assembly. What is different with this one?

That's what I thought. This is just a replacement striker of the same design. Except for the screws vs. rivets, its basically identical to what we have already.

[2vmodular]

the hood latch striker on these cars is a wear item. if your striker is worn out, installing a new one can eliminate hood latch squeaking sounds.


That's what I thought. This is just a replacement striker of the same design. Except for the screws vs. rivets, its basically identical to what we have already.

[Pops]

If the rubber bumpers are on the car and adjusted right this would not be a problem. The stryker is designed to hold the hood down but has nothing to do with the side bumpers. The bumpers are the key to the fix! This stryker plate was not adjusted right along with the bumpers. Ask How I know!

[musclemerc]

Heres a link to the rubber bumpers that go on the side rails:
http://www.mercurymarauder.net/forums/showthread.php?t=47135

[ImpalaSlayer]

my little bumpers keep screwing them selves in, any id-ers?

[justbob]

my little bumpers keep screwing them selves in, any id-ers?
Silicone the threads.

[ImpalaSlayer]

Silicone the threads.

why didnt i think of that

[justbob]

Do you were a cape? I didn't think so.

[ImpalaSlayer]

Do you were a cape? I didn't think so.

ha! get your damn project started already

[Phrog_gunner]

I installed the bumpers and the squeak went away for about a year and now its back. I hate it.

[fastblackmerc]

my little bumpers keep screwing them selves in, any id-ers?

Remove them, add a nut, reinstall them then use the nut to lock it in place.

[ImpalaSlayer]

Remove them, add a nut, reinstall them then use the nut to lock it in place.

was also thinking of a jam nut, just wasnt sure if they came all the way out. havent messed with it to be honest, just figured id throw it out there since it was brought up.

[fastblackmerc]

Do you were a cape? I didn't think so.

It's WEAR a cape.

[Lou]

the hood latch striker on these cars is a wear item. if your striker is worn out, installing a new one can eliminate hood latch squeaking sounds.


I lived with this goofy rattle for almost a year. I KNEW it had to be a brake part of suspension part but could nevr find it. Finally had a decent mechanic locate it as the hood latch. touch of grease and it disappeared.
It's been 8 months but it's coming back now. More grease or maybe invest $20 for a new part.

[fastblackmerc]

I lived with this goofy rattle for almost a year. I KNEW it had to be a brake part of suspension part but could nevr find it. Finally had a decent mechanic locate it as the hood latch. touch of grease and it disappeared.
It's been 8 months but it's coming back now. More grease or maybe invest $20 for a new part.

Adjust the stops and add the bumpers.