Hood Hinge

Remove and replace the hood hinge assembly on a 2005 Dodge Viper, including hood removal, hinge bolt extraction, and proper alignment during reinstallation.

Warnings

Tools required

Parts

• Hood hinge assembly × 1 — Use OEM specification

Preparation

1. Park vehicle on level surface and engage parking brake
2. Ensure engine is cool and hood is closed
3. Protect fenders with fender covers or thick towels to prevent scratches during hood handling
4. If hinge bolts appear corroded, apply penetrating oil and allow 15-20 minutes soak time before removal

Procedure

1. 1

   Mark hinge positions
   Open the hood fully and support it using the vehicle's hood support method (verify whether prop rod or struts are used on this platform). Using a grease pencil or marker, trace the outline of both hood hinges where they contact the hood inner panel. This reference will ensure proper alignment during reinstallation. Also mark the hinge-to-cowl position if the cowl-side hinge is being replaced.
2. 2

   Disconnect windshield washer hoses (if applicable)
   Check whether any washer hoses or wiring route near the hood hinge area. On the 2005 Viper, washer nozzles are cowl/body-mounted, not hood-mounted, so no washer hose disconnection at the hood is typically required. Verify against the vehicle before proceeding and disconnect only if hoses are present.
3. 3

   Remove hood from hinges
   With a helper supporting the hood on each side, locate the hood-to-hinge bolts. There are 4 bolts per hinge (2 bolts per side, total 4 bolts securing hood to both hinges). Using the correct socket size (verify against the FSM — commonly 13mm), loosen but do not remove all 4 bolts initially. Once all are loosened, have your helper support the hood weight, then remove all 4 bolts completely. Carefully lift the hood away from the vehicle and store it in a safe location on padded surfaces.
   ⚠The hood is heavy and awkward. Ensure both people have secure grip before removing final bolts.
4. 4

   Access hinge-to-cowl mounting bolts
   With the hood removed, the hinge-to-cowl mounting area is now visible. The hood hinge is secured to the cowl/body structure with bolts accessible from above. Inspect the area for debris or corrosion that may interfere with bolt removal.
5. 5

   Remove hinge-to-body bolts
   Using the correct socket size with extension (verify against the FSM), remove the bolts securing the hinge to the cowl panel on the affected side (confirm exact count from the FSM). If the hinge incorporates a tension spring (verify against the FSM for this platform), control the hinge as you remove the final bolt to prevent it from snapping away. Once all bolts are removed, carefully extract the hinge assembly from the vehicle.
   ⚠Hood hinge springs are under tension. Control the hinge during final bolt removal to prevent injury from sudden movement.
6. 6

   Inspect mounting surfaces
   With the old hinge removed, inspect the cowl mounting surface for damage, corrosion, or elongated bolt holes. Clean the mounting surface with a shop towel. Check that bolt threads in the cowl are clean and undamaged. If threads are damaged, they must be repaired before installing the new hinge.
7. 7

   Install new hinge to cowl
   Position the new hinge assembly onto the cowl mounting surface, aligning it with your previous alignment marks if replacing with same-position hinge. Install the 3 hinge-to-body bolts finger-tight using a 15mm socket. Do not fully torque at this stage to allow for hood alignment adjustment later. Ensure the hinge spring is properly seated and functioning.
8. 8

   Reinstall hood to hinges
   With your helper, carefully position the hood onto both hinges, aligning the hood mounting holes with the hinge mounting holes. Use your alignment marks from Step 1 as reference. Install all 4 hood-to-hinge bolts (13mm) finger-tight initially. Do not fully tighten yet to allow for adjustment.
9. 9

   Align hood and torque fasteners
   Close the hood slowly and check alignment with fenders and front fascia. Check for even gaps on both sides and proper flush fit. If adjustment is needed, loosen the hood-to-hinge bolts and shift the hood position slightly. Once alignment is satisfactory, open the hood and torque all fasteners. First, torque the hinge-to-body bolts to the FSM-specified value (verify exact torque and count). Then torque the hood-to-hinge bolts to the FSM-specified value (verify exact torque and count).
   Torque spec

   Body Panel Bolts25 Nm (18 lb-ft)
10. 10

    Reconnect washer hoses
    Reconnect the windshield washer hoses to the hood-mounted nozzles. Ensure connections are secure and hoses are routed without kinks or pinch points that could occur during hood operation.

Reassembly

1. Test hood operation through full open and close cycles to ensure smooth movement without binding
2. Verify hood latch engagement is positive and hood sits flush when closed
3. Check that hood gaps are even on both sides and front edge aligns properly with front fascia
4. Test windshield washer function to confirm hoses are properly connected and not kinked

Verification

• Close and open hood multiple times to verify hinge operates smoothly without sticking or abnormal noise
• Check that hood sits flush with fenders and front fascia with even gaps all around
• Verify hood latch engages securely and hood does not move when pushed down with moderate force
• Confirm windshield washer spray pattern is correct and hoses do not interfere with hood movement
• Inspect for any contact marks between hood and body that would indicate misalignment

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