To pop the hood on an Acura RDX, you’ll need to locate the hood release lever under the driver’s side lower corner of the dashboard, at the same level as the gas and brake pedals. Then, release the hood latch lever under the front edge of the hood in the center to the right and release the hood.

Whether it’s for routine maintenance, like an

oil change

or windshield washer fluid refill, or something more extensive, knowing how to open the hood on your Acura RDX is a must. But finding the hood release lever isn’t the same on every car.

Suppose you need to pop the hood of your Acura RDX but aren’t sure how, we’ve put together a guide to help you do it. We’ll cover where to find the hood release handle, how to use it, and whether your

car insurance

policy will cover it in the event of replacement or repair! Let’s get started!

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Where is the hood release on an Acura RDX?

The hood release handle on an Acura RDX is located under the driver’s side lower corner of the dashboard, at the same level as the gas and brake pedals.

Because the hood release lever isn’t in the same place for every car, finding it can be tricky—especially because it’s generally tucked away at the bottom of the steering column near your feet. If you look toward the floor to the left, you’ll see a handle or lever with a picture of the hood open on it—that’s the first lever needed to open the hood of your RDX.

Once you’ve released that lever, the hood will pop up slightly. Then, find the secondary hood release lever, located under the front edge of the hood to the center. Push the safety lever to the right until you hear a click, and raise the hood.

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How to open the hood on an Acura RDX

Once you’ve located the hood release handle on your Acura RDX, it’s easy to

open the hood of your car

—just follow these steps:

Pull the hood release handle under the driver’s side lower corner of the dashboard, at the same level as the gas and brake pedals. You should hear a click to signify it has been released, and the hood will pop up slightly.

Slide your hand under the front edge of the hood in the center until you feel another lever—that’s the secondary hood release lever.

Push the lever to the right to release the safety latch and push the hood up.

Once you raise the hood about halfway, the hydraulic supports will lift it the remaining way up.

Once the hood of your RDX is unlatched and open, it’s time to get to work!

What if the hood release latch doesn’t work?

If you pull the hood release lever and don’t hear the click of the hood being released (or see the hood pop slightly), you’re likely dealing with a broken hood latch release cable. Before you panic, know that you can still open the hood of your RDX if the release is broken; it just takes a little extra work, a flathead screwdriver, and a flashlight (or the light on your phone).

Walk to the front of your RDX and use your flashlight to peek through the grille and locate the latch. Generally, you can see a small metal latch directly under where the front-center of the hood meets the SUV's frame. If you can reach the latch with a screwdriver, put your flathead below the release lever and push up until you see or hear the latch release. Then finish opening the secondary safety latch of the hood as you usually would.

If you can’t reach the latch with a screwdriver, you may have to remove your grille plate or bring your car to a certified mechanic to have it looked at.

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How to repair the Acura RDX hood release

Whether your hood release needs repair or you need to replace your Acura RDX hood latch, the easiest thing to do is take it to a licensed mechanic. If you don’t have a lot of automotive experience, these parts can be tricky to fix—and you don’t want to end up causing more damage!

If you have to replace the hood latch lever, you’re looking at around $245 to $265, but costs will vary depending on the parts used and labor. If your RDX is still covered under warranty, your dealership should replace the lever with genuine Acura parts, but if it’s not, you’ll have to cover the costs out of pocket.

However, if your hood latch lever was damaged in a collision with another car or object and you have

collision

comprehensive coverage

, you may be able to file a claim and have the repair or replacement costs covered by insurance. If you don’t have additional coverage, you can expect to cover them yourself.

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