Part needed (hood hook)

[nemo1]

Hi - I finally decided to open the front hood (service panel) to check my fluids, and I discovered I'm missing the latch on the driver's side that holds it in place. It's the black plastic part that snaps on top of a small post on the lever. Can any of you parts mavens help me find one? Also, I'm interested in getting a new silver service panel. Thanks!

[TMACK]

Picture, please?

[Bum-bling-B]

Are you still in warranty? Make the dealer get you one for free. If not, you're most likely at the mercy of the dealer as that isn't a common piece for some of us spare parts guys to have laying around.

Sounds like you haven't pulled any of that apart before so there isn't a reason it should of come apart unless it wasn't pushed down all the way to lock into place at the factory. To remove it you have to squeeze the top together while simultaneously pulling up on the lost piece. Pulling up normally requires placing a flathead screwdriver underneath to give it some extra ummph as generally they are on there pretty tight.

[Big Panda]

When we took delivery, Joe from SCI did his 'walk around' and showed us all the ins and outs of the smart, how everything functioned, etc.

During that, he took off the front cover and pointed out the various reservoirs and such and demonstrating how the cover is released and reinstalled. Very informative. Did your dealer do that for YOU? If so, sounds like that was the last time your cover was removed. Maybe it wasn't reattached properly and the latch came off.

In any event, if you're still under warranty, your smart center should be able to 'take care' of this without cost to you. Just stop by and have them look at it. Just make sure that no one has backed into your smart and it was broken. That is NOT covered under the warranty.

[Bum-bling-B]

Panda, the only way that part would come off is if it has been removed and not reattached properly or not installed correctly at the factory. It sounds like it is the part that has a square in the middle peg on the latch comes through it to expand and lock into place. If that piece is not down all the way it will slide up. All that being said, I doubt it went far and is somewhere under the service flap or else that puppy would of most likely have been flapping in the wind ..........unless there is more to the story. (why the need for a new service flap?)

[SmartDigger]

I would ask the dealer if covered under warranty

[Big Panda]

Originally Posted by Bum-bling-B

Panda, the only way that part would come off is if it has been removed and not reattached properly or not installed correctly at the factory. It sounds like it is the part that has a square in the middle peg on the latch comes through it to expand and lock into place. If that piece is not down all the way it will slide up. All that being said, I doubt it went far and is somewhere under the service flap or else that puppy would of most likely have been flapping in the wind ..........unless there is more to the story. (why the need for a new service flap?)

My thinking (yes, it is MY thinking...odd as it is) was that if it was there when the smart brand specialist demonstrated how to remove the service cover, then it wasn't the factory's fault. I can't see it just 'falling off' either, so my theory is that the front of his smart may have been 'bumped' at one time and it was broken. Things like that happen all the time in parking lots and with no apparent damage, the other driver drives off.

And yes, it might have been flapping in the wind, but we really don't know his driving habits and he may just drive it in town at no more than 30 mph, in which case it IS 'possible' that it wouldn't 'flap'.

He just needs to see his smart center.....regardless. Even if it's NOT a warranty repair, I can't imagine it costing THAT much to purchase and could be installed himself.

[Bum-bling-B]

Agreed agreed agreed on all parts Panda. I could see someone trying to "pry" the hood off...

I just pulled the same piece off on my car a few weeks ago during the repaint when I had the grille and parts out. While reinstalling I didn't get the piece all the way in where it locked into place. On my inspection I saw the hood didn't stay locked down so I had to reinstall the piece with a little care to ensure it way in correctly.

Originally Posted by Big Panda

My thinking (yes, it is MY thinking...odd as it is) was that if it was there when the smart brand specialist demonstrated how to remove the service cover, then it wasn't the factory's fault. I can't see it just 'falling off' either, so my theory is that the front of his smart may have been 'bumped' at one time and it was broken. Things like that happen all the time in parking lots and with no apparent damage, the other driver drives off.

And yes, it might have been flapping in the wind, but we really don't know his driving habits and he may just drive it in town at no more than 30 mph, in which case it IS 'possible' that it wouldn't 'flap'.

He just needs to see his smart center.....regardless. Even if it's NOT a warranty repair, I can't imagine it costing THAT much to purchase and could be installed himself.

[chieftmc]

Originally Posted by Big Panda

..... Even if it's NOT a warranty repair, I can't imagine it costing THAT much to purchase and could be installed himself.

AH, Famous last words !!!

Probably like the headlight clip ( have to buy the entire headlight assembly ), may have to buy the whole "bonnet" cover

Either way, it's a trip to the dealer