Calgary Jeep Association

General Forums => Chit-Chat => Topic started by: silverfox on January 27, 2011, 08:53:14 PM

Title: Anyone every had there hood pop open at Hwy Speed?
Post by: silverfox on January 27, 2011, 08:53:14 PM
No it didn't happen but hell it was buffeting in the wind enough I thought it might. :o

The hood on my Rubi was flopping a little on the hwy today about 110kph and hella head winds coming back from Medicine Hat this evening it was actually enough to make me slow down for a bit.  Now I know that I am likely paranoid but I have memories of my childhood when the hood on my Dad's 69 Falcon popped up on the highway and blew the windshield in.  Nobody was hurt but sure scared the tar out of me.

So I guess my question is ....................... all you JK owners is that something you have seen or should I have mine checked.  When stopped it seems snug and tight 
Title: Re: Anyone every had there hood pop open at Hwy Speed?
Post by: w squared on January 27, 2011, 08:58:43 PM
The rubber in the factory tie downs for the hood is p1ss poor.

Quick fix: Either throw some big 'ole zip ties on the factory rubber to stiffen them up, or remove the spring that causes the hood to lift up.

Better fix: http://www.northridge4x4.ca/proddetail.php?prod=DS-KJ09145BK (http://www.northridge4x4.ca/proddetail.php?prod=DS-KJ09145BK)

Ever since I put on those stiffer hood tie-downs, the annoying hood flap has stopped.
Title: Re: Anyone every had there hood pop open at Hwy Speed?
Post by: TL-Iguana on January 27, 2011, 08:59:47 PM
Strange, i was just in modern motors yesterday looking at the product wall behind the counter, and there was a kit hanging there that said in huge bold letters -  PREVENT JK HOOD BUFFETING .... I asked my friend that was with me if he had ever had that issue with his JK and he said no. Wonder what the difference is in the latches.. Good to hear it didnt happen though, that would definately be an experience one would not want to have again. Not sure why that package stuck out, but it would seem it may have happened to others in the industry and they have been working on an aftermarket fix?
Title: Re: Anyone every had there hood pop open at Hwy Speed?
Post by: silverfox on January 27, 2011, 09:03:16 PM
The rubber in the factory tie downs for the hood is p1ss poor.

Quick fix: Either throw some big 'ole zip ties on the factory rubber to stiffen them up, or remove the spring that causes the hood to lift up.

Better fix: http://www.northridge4x4.ca/proddetail.php?prod=DS-KJ09145BK (http://www.northridge4x4.ca/proddetail.php?prod=DS-KJ09145BK)

Ever since I put on those stiffer hood tie-downs, the annoying hood flap has stopped.

Well hell

Be ordering up those right damn quick..............it was a little unnerving that whole fluttering thing

Thanks T
Title: Re: Anyone every had there hood pop open at Hwy Speed?
Post by: w squared on January 27, 2011, 09:30:29 PM
Strange, i was just in modern motors yesterday looking at the product wall behind the counter, and there was a kit hanging there that said in huge bold letters -  PREVENT JK HOOD BUFFETING .... I asked my friend that was with me if he had ever had that issue with his JK and he said no. Wonder what the difference is in the latches.. Good to hear it didnt happen though, that would definately be an experience one would not want to have again. Not sure why that package stuck out, but it would seem it may have happened to others in the industry and they have been working on an aftermarket fix?

So of the tie-downs (or latches if ya wanna call 'em that) are harder rubber...some are softer. The soft ones allow hood flutter, the hard ones don't. There's some sort of timeline for which ones are hard or soft, but I can't be arsed to look it up.

All I can tell ya is that the ones that came on my JK sucked...so I cut them off and replaced 'em. Now the hood stays where it belongs and doesn't annoy me  :)
Title: Re: Anyone every had there hood pop open at Hwy Speed?
Post by: Mudhawg on January 27, 2011, 09:34:14 PM
Just finished painting and installing a new hood on my dodge due to the hood blowing up when the previous owner had it
Title: Re: Anyone every had there hood pop open at Hwy Speed?
Post by: vantagetes on January 27, 2011, 11:53:59 PM
I betcha if it did come up and pop your windshield out you wouldnt need to stop for coffee to finish the trip  ;D

My TJ hood moves a teeny tiny bit in extreme wind but mine is also one of the oddball ones that has a "safety latch". Now who the heck would put one of those on a hood??? Silly Jeep engineers...I wonder about them sometimes...
Title: Re: Anyone every had there hood pop open at Hwy Speed?
Post by: YoungFluff03TJ on January 28, 2011, 07:38:30 AM
This happens on my TJ alot....especially when a semi passes me going the other way on the highway. First time it happened I nearly pooped a nugget and did a little swerve (as if that would help)......person behind me looked strange as he proceeded to pass me.
Title: Re: Anyone every had there hood pop open at Hwy Speed?
Post by: murray195 on January 28, 2011, 08:39:49 AM
It wasn't on a jeep, but I was driving down deerfoot last year in my old 2000 Jetta VR6 in the lane closest to the center barrier and suddenly it was a black out! Scary as hell. Put a dent in roof and smashed the windshield in  :o
Title: Re: Anyone every had there hood pop open at Hwy Speed?
Post by: hps4evr on January 28, 2011, 10:55:43 AM
there is a TSB for this through chrysler. but, i cant remember what year of JK its for.
Title: Re: Anyone every had there hood pop open at Hwy Speed?
Post by: yyc_tbird_sc on January 28, 2011, 11:26:04 AM
I had it happen on the ranger once after leaving a buddies shop. Someone else had opened the hood and only closed it onto the first latch, not all the way. Heading down the gravel road, I hit a gust of wind and saw it coming up...managed to hammer on the brakes fast enough that it only bent the hinges a bit, the wiper arms, and very little bit to the cowl. Never did touch the windshield.
Title: Re: Anyone every had there hood pop open at Hwy Speed?
Post by: w squared on January 28, 2011, 11:47:18 AM
there is a TSB for this through chrysler. but, i cant remember what year of JK its for.

Yup...there's only certain segments of the run that Chrysler will acknowledge that the problem exists. My rig wasn't covered (even though it definitely had the problem), so it was an easy decision to buy the good latches from Northridge.
Title: Re: Anyone every had there hood pop open at Hwy Speed?
Post by: Rubi03 jef on January 28, 2011, 11:54:30 AM
use 2 large black zip ties wrap them around the rubber mount from top to bottom then put your hood latch back on then pull the zip ties snug so they will not allow the rubber to stretch when the wind hits them

i told 3 of my co workers to do this and they are allllllllll very happy
i even have black zipties at home i can give to you

its cheap and easy and you cant even see it
Title: Re: Anyone every had there hood pop open at Hwy Speed?
Post by: BlackAura on January 28, 2011, 08:36:58 PM
This happens on my TJ alot....especially when a semi passes me going the other way on the highway. First time it happened I nearly pooped a nugget and did a little swerve (as if that would help)......person behind me looked strange as he proceeded to pass me.

Almost scared the poop out of me first time too, I was about an hour into my journey to Seattle....every time I passed a semi I slowed down in hopes it would help a bit.

use 2 large black zip ties wrap them around the rubber mount from top to bottom then put your hood latch back on then pull the zip ties snug so they will not allow the rubber to stretch when the wind hits them

i told 3 of my co workers to do this and they are allllllllll very happy
i even have black zipties at home i can give to you

its cheap and easy and you cant even see it

Thanks Rubi03jef, I'll give that a shot!


Thanks for asking the question Fox!
Title: Re: Anyone every had there hood pop open at Hwy Speed?
Post by: scott/kerri on January 29, 2011, 07:47:17 PM
There was a recall done on hood latches for this reason, since I got my new ones they are not as bad but thanks to driving in strong a lot they are wearing out and starting to get soft again......I would go to your dealer and find out if you are on the recall for JK's .
Title: Re: Anyone every had there hood pop open at Hwy Speed?
Post by: FirstTimer on February 01, 2011, 11:11:47 AM
This happened to me for the first time driving out to the Hot Chocolate run!  I drive Deerfoot everyday and it never happens there, but out on the highway with the big wind gust I thought I was a gonner!

Good to know there are some quick fixes for the issue!
Title: Re: Anyone every had there hood pop open at Hwy Speed?
Post by: Traktor on February 09, 2011, 03:30:59 PM
The previous owner of my Wrangler was under the hood before leaving a fishing hole and forgot to close the latches. At about 30 the hood lifted.

B TW, I'm the new guy. You can recognize my new-to-me red YJ by the band of dents across the hood. Looking forward to learning and loving the jeep thing.
Title: Re: Anyone every had there hood pop open at Hwy Speed?
Post by: silverfox on February 09, 2011, 03:33:48 PM
The previous owner of my Wrangler was under the hood before leaving a fishing hole and forgot to close the latches. At about 30 the hood lifted.

B TW, I'm the new guy. You can recognize my new-to-me red YJ by the band of dents across the hood. Looking forward to learning and loving the jeep thing.

Welcome new guy..............nothing wrong with dents  ::)
Title: Re: Anyone every had there hood pop open at Hwy Speed?
Post by: AstraX on February 09, 2011, 03:50:19 PM
Welcome new guy..............nothing wrong with dents  ::)

You're just sayin' that cause you put a big one in your door!   ;D
Title: Re: Anyone every had there hood pop open at Hwy Speed?
Post by: homeguy on February 11, 2011, 09:55:51 AM
I was driving down McLeod Trail back a couple weeks ago... I saw a minivan with one of those portable chargers, the ones that hold a charge, under his hood while driving.  Well this guy had it hooked to his battery, I was at the lights when I noticed... I stayed beside him to find out what speed it takes to make it flip up and it was 35 kms, his hood dented, roof was dented, but no broken windshield.... I couldn't believe anyone would do that, but....
Title: Re: Anyone every had there hood pop open at Hwy Speed?
Post by: silverfox on February 16, 2011, 07:23:03 AM
I installed the daystar hood latches that I got from Northridge and they rock.  Way tighter and much firmer rubber.  The install took me all of 15 minutes and in that howling wind the other evening going down Stoney at 110 kph not even a drop of movement.