If you find yourself needing to pop the hood of your 2016 Honda CR-V, the first thing you’ll want to do is pull the hood release lever under the driver’s side dashboard. Next, you’ll need to pull the secondary latch that’s found under the hood itself.

If you’re lucky, you might not ever need to pop the hood of your 2016 Honda CR-V. However, if you find yourself with a

dead battery

or need to do some automotive troubleshooting, popping the hood is the first step. Aside from battery blunders, you might just want to get in touch with your inner mechanic and perform your own

oil changes

for a change!

Whether it’s for fun,

repairs

, or to tell that family of raccoons that it’s time to move on, here’s what you need to know about how to get under the hood of your 2016 Honda CR-V. We’ll cover where to find the latches, what the manual recommends, and under what circumstances your

car insurance

might cover a broken hood release.

MORE:

Honda CR-V insurance costs

Where is the hood release on a 2016 Honda CR-V?

You can find the hood release on a 2016 Honda CR-V beneath the dashboard on the lower left-hand driver’s side.

It might take a second to locate it since it’s back in the kick panel and out of reach to prevent an accidental pull. The lever you’re looking for is a small, dark-colored rectangle with the icon of a car with an open hood.

The second latch you’ll need to locate is outside of the car, underneath the hood of your Honda CR-V. To find this, you’ll typically need to feel around under the center of the hood after you’ve pulled the interior release latch. This secondary latch is what releases the hood.

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How to open the hood on a 2016 Honda CR-V

Now that you know where to find the hood release latches in your 2016 Honda CR-V, here’s how to open the hood according to the owner’s manual:

Park your CR-V on level ground and set the emergency parking brake.

Pull the interior hood release latch on the driver’s side kick plate. You should hear a pop, which is the sound of the latch releasing.

Stand in front of the hood. You should be able to slide your hand between the edge of the hood and the grille to find the secondary release lever near the center.

Pull the hood release lever to release the lock mechanism, and lift the hood.

Remove the hood support rod from the clamp using the grip, and securely mount the rod in the designated spot.

Now you can go about your business! But what happens if these steps don’t go quite as planned? Here’s a strategy to get a faulty hood release latch open.

What if the hood release latch doesn’t work?

If you pulled the interior latch but didn’t hear a nice satisfying pop, then odds are you’ve got a broken release cable. You’ll want to get this repaired, but it doesn’t mean you can’t open your hood if you have the right tools.

You’ll need a flashlight and a long, flat-headed screwdriver. Shine the light on the top of the front grille area of your CR-V and look for the hood release mechanism. Using your screwdriver, you might be able to pull the latch release cable and then open the hood from there. Be cautious if you try this to avoid causing further damage.

MORE: Are Hondas expensive to maintain?

How to repair a 2016 Honda CR-V hood release

If you need a new release cable to replace your

Honda CR-V hood latch

, your best bet is to have it done by an experienced mechanic. A lot is going on under the hood of your CR-V, and it’s a job for the pros.

The cost of a hood latch replacement runs about $150 to $250, and the cost of a new cable is roughly the same. If you go to a Honda dealership, they’ll use OEM parts, but dealerships are often the most expensive places to get repairs done. An independent mechanic is likely a much more economical option, but they may use aftermarket parts.

Will your car insurance cover this? It depends on how the latch was damaged. If it’s just routine wear and tear, then no. But if the hood release mechanism was damaged in an accident, then you might be able to use your

collision coverage

. If unwanted critters invade the hood and cause some damage, the repairs could be covered under your

comprehensive coverage

. Good luck!

MORE:

Does car insurance cover repairs?

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