Hood Latch broken due to rad support cracking
 

I have a 2003 Civic 2 door LX. I was cleaning out the engine bay today as I am getting ready to sell this car for a new one with a few less miles. When I went to latch the hood it didn't latch. It would hook but not go all the way down. I tried a few more times before I decided to take a look at what was causing this issue. Upon closer inspection, I realized that my hood latch had a lot of play in it. I then got right up to it with a headlamp on and realized that my radiator support, particularly the top of the middle beam where the hood latch had spider web cracks all throughout it and two of the three bolts holding the hood latch had ripped through the rad support that they normally thread through.

Thinking back there had been some play in my hood since this winter and I had to jump my car several times as it got down to -40C where I live. I wonder if these cracks and the shearing may have happened while opening the hood repeatedly during the cold snap.

Any ideas on what I can do short of replacing the entire rad support on a car that I am planning on selling and isn't worth more than $1500?

Should I go to pick and pull and hack out a section of rad support from another civic and weld it onto what's left of the current one or maybe some large washers to pinch enough of the remaining rad support? I am going to look at it more in depth tomorrow and I will post pictures then.

Re: Hood Latch broken due to rad support cracking
 

look in car-part.com - scrap yard database.
or just sell it for lower price and tell the buyer about the issue

Re: Hood Latch broken due to rad support cracking
 

How good are your welding skills?

Re: Hood Latch broken due to rad support cracking
 

One few times it makes sense to put some hood pins on.

Re: Hood Latch broken due to rad support cracking
 

actually, scratch the lower the price - at the age our cars are now, the buyer is not likely to think too much about the issues. They will be there whatever they may wish for.

Re: Hood Latch broken due to rad support cracking
 

https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.civ...244e3e2548.jpg

Re: Hood Latch broken due to rad support cracking
 

Is that only glued together with JB Weld or something? Looks like a hack repair IMO

Re: Hood Latch broken due to rad support cracking
 

+1 for bubblegum welds

Re: Hood Latch broken due to rad support cracking
 

The metal is super thin. You might be able to tacKweld it like a pro, but I burned a hole right through it. Try your best!

Re: Hood Latch broken due to rad support cracking
 

better fix is to drill out the spot welds and replace the entire piece, either with one from a junkyard or a new one.
or use an additional piece of metal for better support and weld to that