I was driving on the freeway today at about 70 mpg, no traffic but there was a slight head wind. On several occasions I was concerned that my hood was going to fly up and over the top of the Jeep. I stopped to check on the latches and they appeared to be fine. However, several times the wind actually lifted the hood up to the point I was concerned. You know how when you pass a large truck it moves you over? It was a similar type of feeling watching the hood try to lift off. Has anyone else had this type of problem? Is it common or should I have it checked further?
It's still latched. It won't fly up. Some people remove the hood spring to stop the flutter. Many others get the Daystar Hood Wranglers to replace the stock dog bone.
It's called "hood flutter" and it's quite common. As Daggo said, DayStar makes some replacement hood latches that can fix it, as does Drake. You can also remove or zip tie the spring underneath the hood to remove some of the up pressure. Or you can just ignore it--the hood won't pop up.
Happened to me too. Running about 75 on 2 lane highway with a headwind, 18 wheeler passing in the opposite direction. I thought for sure the hood was coming off. I have taken the spring out and it does help.
Had this happen to me for the first time yesterday driving at 60 with a semi coming the opposite way. Didn't know what happened at first. I was considering getting locking latches so my battery doesn't disappear and it looks like they should stop this from happening so done deal.
Got sick of my hood hopping and the thought of someone cutting battery and stealing jeep! Just get the rampage lockable hood latches, GET A CLEAN LOOK, SECURITY AND STEADY HOOD. $89 on quadratec
This fluttering happened to all the older JK's. My '09 did it. But the new ones '12 for sure, and I think the '11 also, have different, tighter clamping latches on each side. All the '12s I looked at were like this. No flutter on my '12.
Haha, give it some time. It just happened to my on my 2012 the other day while driving 60 or so down a small two lane road. Was a windy day. Had not happened before, and did it multiple times that day/drive. Scared the crap out of me the first time, then I reassured myself knowing that the hood latche was in place. I still may get some other latches though that will fix this, like the Drake ones.
Mine is new as well. And it has happen a few times already. Each time I think the hood is going to fly up. And then I quickly check to see if the latches are on. Even though they are, it still give me a WTF moment! The wind gets around it & all so it's prone to happen. Try what others have recommended if it bothers you.
Or you can have a gnome stay under the hood holding it down when you're out & about!
Read enough about it to pick up some Daystar Hood Wranglers after removing the "-1 Air Dam of Limited Utility".
I haven't seen the flutter and I don't plan on it.
I just looked there up - thanks for the recommendation - and can't see that they look any different than my stock holders on my '12 Sport Unlimited. What am I missing? If they will cure the flutter it will be worth it to me but I just can't visually see any difference.
Got around to installing my Daystar Hood Wranglers today.
Left them on the dashboard until lunch so they were warmed up.
Super easy install, took no more than 20 minutes, if that.
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