University of Extrication: Lockable Hood Feature in New-Model Van
SUBJECT: Ford Transit Connect Utility Van
TOPIC: Lockable Hood Feature
OBJECTIVE: Become familiar with the design and operation of the lockable hood latch mechanism of the Ford Transit Connect van
TASK: Given a Ford Transit Connect van to inspect, the rescue team shall familiarize themselves with the design of the lockable hood latch mechanism and be able to operate it to open the hood under simulated collision scene conditions
With the arrival of the new utility van from Ford Motor Company, responders have an increased probability of encountering a lockable hood latch mechanism at a vehicle fire or collision scene.
The front-wheel-drive Transit Connect vans are built in Turkey and Romania and imported into the United States by Ford Motor Company. They have been available in the U.S. since mid-2009. The van is available as a cargo van or as a five-passenger vehicle. Frontal airbags are provided for the front occupants as are side-impact roof-mounted airbags for the driver and front passenger. It is anticipated that the Transit Connect van will also be available as an electric plug-in vehicle in the near future.
On all four versions of the van, the front-mounted hood latch mechanism can be released only from the outside of the vehicle – which is a bit unusual. There is no inside hood release mechanism on the instrument panel as normally encountered. What is also unusual is that once the hood is latched, it locks automatically. The hood can only be released under normal conditions by using the door/ignition key and inserting it into the locking hood latch key cylinder while standing at the front of the van.
The blue oval Ford emblem, mounted on the front grill, conceals the hood release lock cylinder. To release the hood requires four actions. First, the blue Ford oval must be rotated 180 degrees counterclockwise. This exposes the key cylinder. Next, the vehicle’s ignition key must be inserted into the slot. To unlock and unlatch the hood, the key is first turned to the left to release the primary latch and then be turned back to the right to release the secondary latch. This twisting sequence releases the latch completely and allows the hood to pop open.
Task: Given a Ford Connect utility van to inspect, the rescue team shall familiarize themselves with the design of the lockable hood latch mechanism and be able to operate it under simulated collision scene conditions
RON MOORE a Firehouse® contributing editor, is training chief for the McKinney, TX, Fire Department. He also authors a monthly online article in the Firehouse.com “MembersZone” and serves as the Forum Moderator for the extrication section of the Firehouse.com website. Moore can be contacted directly at [email protected].
To release the hood:
1) Rotate the blue Ford oval 180 degrees counterclockwise
2) Insert the vehicle’s ignition key into the slot
3) Turn the key to the left to release the primary latch
4) Then turn the key to the right to release the secondary latch
Ron Moore
RON MOORE, who is a Firehouse contributing editor, recently retired as a division chief with the McKinney, TX, Fire Department and now serves with Prosper, TX, Fire Rescue. He self-published the Vehicle Rescue 1-2-3 training manual and serves as the forum moderator for the extrication section of Firehouse.com . Moore can be contacted directly at [email protected].
