A buddy of mine gave me a 1996 Dodge Stratus. I have a 19 Y.O. daughter and have been looking for a good first car. I've fixed the instrument cluster problem and replaced the front seats with a pair from a 2002 Stratus (my drivers side seat was broken in 3 places!).

I'm now getting closer to replacing the hood. It's rotted in (2) places. My buddy (who owned the car since new) had the hood replaced with a new one (from Dodge) a few years back. The hood alone was $400 (then paint, labor, etc...). I've found an aftermarket hood (metal) for $110 locally. It's new, but I'm sure it isn't as good of quality as the Dodge one. A different friend of mine will paint it when the time comes.

Here is my question: How do you keep the hood from rotting out? Is there any benefit to buying one from Dodge vs Aftermarket? IOW: will the Dodge hood last 5 years while the aftermarket only lasts 1 year? Does anyone make a fiberglass / carbon fiber hood for the Stratus that is a direct replacement for the stock hood (no aero mods, no hood pins, etc...)?

Thanks, Ken
1996 Dodge Stratus (just hit 100K)

 

Hi,

I just bought a Stratus myself with the same problem so I can't provide much insight but as you probably already know this is a VERY common problem with the Stratus and her siblings. I've been looking at a replacement hood for the same price you quoted so please keep us updated on how it works out. For right now, I'm content to live with the two big herpes sores on my hood lip, but at some point I will need to do something.

Is this the type of hood replacement you are talking about?

http://www.carparts.com/details/Dodg...lacement9373q1

Dig

 

The hood I am talking about is a standard aftermarket hood. Just like the one that you linked to. I can't be sure of the brand name, just that it's $110 picked up from a local store.

I know that this is a common problem. I was hoping that someone here could shed a little light on it, since I'm pretty sure it must have been discussed already.

I'm wondering if there is a trick to prevent or slow down the rot on a new hood (seal a seam, use a particular primer, etc...). Hopefully someone here can enlighten both of us.

I'm also holding off for this repair. I can't find the paint code for my car. The tag that is mounted on the right front strut tower has rotted away. I understand that it is a 'dusty rosewood' metallic paint (IIRC, from what the original owner said).

-Ken

 

My hood has the same problem, but it is not nearly as bad as some of the ones I've seen but its about there. I'm looking at cutting out and patching up the cancer, but I'm keeping my eyes peeled at the junk yards.

 

The best way is to give your car a wash every week or every other during the winter months. Then immediately open the hood, trunk & all doors and wipe out the salt and suds to slow down or eliminate a future problem with rust. I got lazy the past few years and all of a sudden I've got rust and herpes break outs here and there. So now I will have to break out the sander, and spray it down with some rustoleum rust perpetrator and bondo and paint it.