Imagine this: you’re on your daily commute, driving to work as you usually do, when all of a sudden the hood pops open. Suddenly it’s impossible to see where you’re going. This is bad news when you’re driving along at 55 miles an hour!
Luckily, you’re able to safely pull over on the shoulder and stop your car. Now let’s look at what kind of damage can occur when the hood comes open while you’re driving.
What kind of damage can be caused by the hood coming open while driving?
When your hood opens while you’re driving, the first item that gets damaged is obviously the hood. It can be crumpled, bent, and significantly twisted out of shape. This is because the hood is subjected to great force when it suddenly opens. The hood is one of the crumple zones built into your car to absorb collision forces. Suddenly opening may cause damage to your car’s frame.
Other damage that can occur is to your car’s windshield and roof. Glass damage is extremely common. Your windshield wipers may be damaged in this incident. In rare cases, engine damage or damage to components in the engine compartment can result from the hood flying open.
To tell what type of damage your car has endured you’ll want to take it to your local collision center for a complete inspection. You can take your car to a collision center even if you haven’t been in an accident with another vehicle. The skilled technicians will examine your car thoroughly to determine the extent and nature of damages.
Can You Drive a Car With a Damaged Hood?
The answer to that question is maybe. If the hood can be closed and secured, and the damage doesn’t interfere with the safe operation of your vehicle, you may be able to drive it that way for a short while. However, the damage should be addressed because the crumple zone function has been compromised. Additionally, your vehicle will be more vulnerable to rust and environmental damages when the hood is not properly intact.
A better bet is to work with your local auto body repair shop to have your hood repaired.
