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Diagnosing Difficulties in the Ford F-150 Heritage Hood

Hood's are built to last a very long time-they're the first line of protection to those valuable and expensive components under the hood, after all. That's especially true for a Ford F-150 Heritage hood, because a tough truck needs a tough hood. It might seem like an obvious thing, figuring out problems with the hood, but there are few things you truly have to look out for that could mean the difference between a great hood and a useless one. Take a look at these tips that break down the signs of a break down:

Improper or insecure closing

The first sign of possible problems with the hood is if it cannot seem to close properly and completely. True, the latch attached to the body of your truck might be to blame, but there is also a chance that the damage is in the arresting hook attached to your F-150 Heritage's hood or even warping of the hood itself. That latter bit is a much rarer occurrence as the Heritage's hood is large and heavy, and less prone to such damage. Still, it has and can happen so it's worth checking.

Odd surface discoloration

The least dangerous and not-too-obvious thing you can keep your eye on is the actual surface of the hood-especially as the truck starts to age. This discoloration is not simply a sign of topical damage. In fact, it usually signals a worsening state of the hood underneath-rusting, most likely. While not an immediate threat to safety, this discoloration also signals a weakening of the hood's surface which makes it prone to external physical damage.

Whine-y, stubborn hinges

Another thing to take note of is the condition of the hinges that secure the hood to the rest of your Heritage. If you notice that it squeaks and whines as you raise it-and if actually raising the hood seems to be a much more difficult task than it should be-you might want to check the hinges for rusting or even physical warping. This king of damage is very serious, and might cause the hood to eventually fall apart at the seams, as it were.