Kia 0K52Y52310A Hood Assembly

The hood is heavy and somewhat awkward to remove and install, so at least two people should perform this procedure. Begin by using blankets or pads to cover the cowl area and fenders to protect the body and paint during the hood removal. Scribe alignment marks around the bolt heads and hinge attachment locations to ensure proper alignment during installation, using a permanent-type felt-tip marker if necessary. Remove the top bolts holding the hood to the hinge and loosen the bottom bolts until they can be removed by hand. Have an assistant support the weight of the hood from the opposite side of the vehicle. For models from 2006 and later, disconnect the support struts from the ball studs and lay them down. Take turns removing the hinge-to-hood bolts and lift off the hood while supporting it with your shoulder. Installation is the reverse of removal. For adjustment, move the hood in relation to the hinge plate after loosening the bolts to achieve front-and-back and side-to-side alignment. Scribe or trace a line around the hinge plate to judge the amount of movement, then loosen the bolts or nuts and adjust the hood slightly at a time, tightening them afterward and carefully lowering the hood to check alignment. Adjust the hood bumpers on the radiator support or fenders to ensure the hood is flush with the fenders when closed, and adjust the hood height by screwing the bumpers in or out. Mark the hood latch as a guide for adjustment, as it can also be adjusted up-and-down and side-to-side after loosening the bolts. Periodically lubricate the hood latch assembly and hinges with white lithium-base grease to prevent sticking and wear.