Securing Hood - high winds
Thread Starter
JK Enthusiast
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 183
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From: Kansas
Securing Hood - high winds
I took a trip this past weekend out to western KS. for those that haven't spent a spring in the midwest (specifically W. KS), it gets rather windy. i was driving into a pretty stout 20mph wind with gusts much higher than that.
on a side note i pulled a trailer and was quite happy with the JK's performance pulling a large un airodynamic box behind it, directly into the wind.
anyway, i noticed the "loose hood" syndrome that most have complained about. just driving into the wind was making my hood move all over the place.
I was expecting this after reading this forum, so was not alarmed. However, I got onto Highway 56 heading south (shich is pretty heavy commercial Semi-Truck traffic). Well, i almost wet my briches when the first 15 wheeler approached and passed me. My hood lifted off the mount the entire 2.5 to 3 inches that give before the metal latch inside catches.
I probably passed 50 trucks that day. Everytime same thing. I tried sliding over to the shoulder to try to reduce the vacum, didn't work, I slowed down (to like 20mph), didn't help.
I am affraid that one time, i am going to pass one of these trucks, and that hook is going to pop out, and my hood will shoot up to my windshied.
WHat i need is to replace the little rubberbands with a solid bracket. does anyone have any ideas.
on a side note i pulled a trailer and was quite happy with the JK's performance pulling a large un airodynamic box behind it, directly into the wind.
anyway, i noticed the "loose hood" syndrome that most have complained about. just driving into the wind was making my hood move all over the place.
I was expecting this after reading this forum, so was not alarmed. However, I got onto Highway 56 heading south (shich is pretty heavy commercial Semi-Truck traffic). Well, i almost wet my briches when the first 15 wheeler approached and passed me. My hood lifted off the mount the entire 2.5 to 3 inches that give before the metal latch inside catches.
I probably passed 50 trucks that day. Everytime same thing. I tried sliding over to the shoulder to try to reduce the vacum, didn't work, I slowed down (to like 20mph), didn't help.
I am affraid that one time, i am going to pass one of these trucks, and that hook is going to pop out, and my hood will shoot up to my windshied.
WHat i need is to replace the little rubberbands with a solid bracket. does anyone have any ideas.
JK Enthusiast
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 288
Likes: 0
From: Belle Plaine, KS
ksrocliber...
There is nothing to replace them with yet nor can I find an adjustment. I have minimized mine to some degree by taping a 3/8" vacumm hose inside the lip of the seal on top of the grill that seals against the hood. It helps but I travel from KS to Dallas on I-35 quite a bit and I still have my "OH CRAP" moments.
There is nothing to replace them with yet nor can I find an adjustment. I have minimized mine to some degree by taping a 3/8" vacumm hose inside the lip of the seal on top of the grill that seals against the hood. It helps but I travel from KS to Dallas on I-35 quite a bit and I still have my "OH CRAP" moments.
JK Freak
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 947
Likes: 0
From: Cleveland, Ohio
I took a trip this past weekend out to western KS. for those that haven't spent a spring in the midwest (specifically W. KS), it gets rather windy. i was driving into a pretty stout 20mph wind with gusts much higher than that.
on a side note i pulled a trailer and was quite happy with the JK's performance pulling a large un airodynamic box behind it, directly into the wind.
anyway, i noticed the "loose hood" syndrome that most have complained about. just driving into the wind was making my hood move all over the place.
I was expecting this after reading this forum, so was not alarmed. However, I got onto Highway 56 heading south (shich is pretty heavy commercial Semi-Truck traffic). Well, i almost wet my briches when the first 15 wheeler approached and passed me. My hood lifted off the mount the entire 2.5 to 3 inches that give before the metal latch inside catches.
I probably passed 50 trucks that day. Everytime same thing. I tried sliding over to the shoulder to try to reduce the vacum, didn't work, I slowed down (to like 20mph), didn't help.
I am affraid that one time, i am going to pass one of these trucks, and that hook is going to pop out, and my hood will shoot up to my windshied.
WHat i need is to replace the little rubberbands with a solid bracket. does anyone have any ideas.
on a side note i pulled a trailer and was quite happy with the JK's performance pulling a large un airodynamic box behind it, directly into the wind.
anyway, i noticed the "loose hood" syndrome that most have complained about. just driving into the wind was making my hood move all over the place.
I was expecting this after reading this forum, so was not alarmed. However, I got onto Highway 56 heading south (shich is pretty heavy commercial Semi-Truck traffic). Well, i almost wet my briches when the first 15 wheeler approached and passed me. My hood lifted off the mount the entire 2.5 to 3 inches that give before the metal latch inside catches.
I probably passed 50 trucks that day. Everytime same thing. I tried sliding over to the shoulder to try to reduce the vacum, didn't work, I slowed down (to like 20mph), didn't help.
I am affraid that one time, i am going to pass one of these trucks, and that hook is going to pop out, and my hood will shoot up to my windshied.
WHat i need is to replace the little rubberbands with a solid bracket. does anyone have any ideas.
Thread Starter
JK Enthusiast
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 183
Likes: 0
From: Kansas
yeah thanks for the info. I haven't just looked real closely at them yet, but i would imagine that you could do some sort of solid state bracket instead of rubber band.
Key would be to not do anything that was not reversible.
I would be extremely intresed in your ideas.
B
Key would be to not do anything that was not reversible.
I would be extremely intresed in your ideas.
B
JK Super Freak
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 1,441
Likes: 1
From: Gilmanton Iron Works, NH
Took mine to the dealer for this problem since it periodically scares the hell out of my wife. Dealer says, "haven't heard this before" and later, "unable to duplicate". Funny, since it does it every time I drive the Jeep...they should probably get out of their parking lot on the test drive. They recommended I call DC. I actually got thru to a real person and explained my problem. DC rep says, "haven't heard this before" and after putting me on hold to call the dealer explains that "dealer was unable to duplicate" 
I explained that hood lift seems to be common and refered them to this website, I also offered to send them the video tape I had just made of my hood flapping in the breeze, and finally I explained to them that my next call was to the NHTSA. Got their attention! Have appointment with DC District service rep soon, along with assurances that problem will be resolved. Will post results as they become available. :angry: :angry: :angry: :angry: :angry: :angry: :angry:
I explained that hood lift seems to be common and refered them to this website, I also offered to send them the video tape I had just made of my hood flapping in the breeze, and finally I explained to them that my next call was to the NHTSA. Got their attention! Have appointment with DC District service rep soon, along with assurances that problem will be resolved. Will post results as they become available. :angry: :angry: :angry: :angry: :angry: :angry: :angry:
Last edited by skibum; Mar 30, 2007 at 03:32 PM.
JK Freak
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 597
Likes: 0
mine flaps up sometimes with high wind or big rigs passing, just wondering like u said if those plastic hood ornaments ever fail lets just hope the latch holds things down. ive been in a caddy once the hood did fly up years ago doing about 50mph it was a blind thrill ride.
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JK Enthusiast
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 488
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From: Danbury, CT
i'm not sure how the hood can be opening up during windy situation. After reading this thread, i went out in front of the jeep, and tried to lift up the hood, and it seems REALLY secure to me.
Is this problem just on certain production (missing rubber seal, etc), or on all of JKs? just wondering...since this can be a serious problem
Is this problem just on certain production (missing rubber seal, etc), or on all of JKs? just wondering...since this can be a serious problem
JK Jedi
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 5,831
Likes: 2
From: SoCal, USA
Does anyone with their airdam still on experience this? I'd been running my airdam for the first 7k miles or so and my hood never even flinched-- not even at 90mph past the largest rig on I-5. The second I ditched the airdam, the hood started lifting on the highway. Nothing very scary, but still it lifts now. I'm just wondering if the folks who are having real problems have their airdams on or not...
JK Enthusiast
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 212
Likes: 0
From: Macon, Ga
Does anyone with their airdam still on experience this? I'd been running my airdam for the first 7k miles or so and my hood never even flinched-- not even at 90mph past the largest rig on I-5. The second I ditched the airdam, the hood started lifting on the highway. Nothing very scary, but still it lifts now. I'm just wondering if the folks who are having real problems have their airdams on or not...
That's when I noticed it too, but I attributed not seeing it before due to the rake that's now been leveled out. Hmmmm.....
