Terrifying Porsche Moment

[daepp]

At 6:00am this morning I was heading down an empty four lane interstate at 80mph making my way to an early meeting. Car was good, music was good, all seemed well. Snapped the following photos:





Perhaps I should leave the picture taking for later...

I exited the freeway and got up to about 20 mph on a perpendicular (and again empty) street when my front hood flew open. It took just a nanosecond to stomp on the brakes, and due to the cold ambient temperature and the shot hood struts, the hood immediately closed. I pulled over and exited the car, very well shaken.

When I opened the trunk/hood, I noticed the latch was still latched. Two 10mm nuts were lying next to it. I went back to the front seat and pulled the cable and the latch released. Because the primary AND secondary latches are part of the same assembly, and because it came off in its entirety, my hood flew open. A minute earlier I was doing 80!

The car was restored by a P Car specialist a few years ago. I have no way of knowing if they tightened it or not. I only found one lock washer, but the other could have fallen out. I never thought to check this, nor is it on my list of pm items. Thought others should consider it.

The hood looks okay with no visible buckling etc. I reassembled the latch/hood on the spot as I had to get down the road a bit, and it seemed to tighten up just fine. Now, however, when I pull the release it only opens a bit. I have no idea why, nor do I know how to release it. The cowl below the windshield has two of these:



Not sure of my next step. I now have a dented cowl, a hood that won't release and a fear of what's next!

[gamin]

Now that's a new one. I'm going to check the latch on the 70 before the next ride.

[shadowjack1]

Reading this in the garage, opened hood, removed nuts, applied loctite and installed new lock washers. I feel better.

[manbridge 74]

I've had this happen on a customer car (MGA) and it will flat ruin your day. Especially so when the job was in the rear end area and we never popped the hood! Just drove it around the block to park it. Thankfully it happened at low enough speed that no damage was evident after we were able to massage the slightly bowed hood back into shape using blankets over the engine.

Once a year I go ever every bolt and nut I can reach on the entire car. Just a snug up, no gorilla tighten.

[JAR0023]

Originally Posted by daepp

The hood looks okay with no visible buckling etc. I reassembled the latch/hood on the spot as I had to get down the road a bit, and it seemed to tighten up just fine. Now, however, when I pull the release it only opens a bit. I have no idea why, nor do I know how to release it.

When you pull the release the hood should only open a bit. That's the secondary safety catch working. I'm assuming you mean the main latch is not releasing cleanly? Can you pull the hood up enough with your hands to work the safety catch? I'm going to go with the hood striker is not perfectly aligned with the latch and it's hanging. You have left/right and some front/back adjustment with the striker and up/down with the latch. Once you get it open, watch closely as you close it and check for alignment of the striker into the main latch. Adjust as needed. -J

[Lapkritis]

Originally Posted by daepp

Ouch. Out of pocket repair probably cheaper in the long run than claiming it. Might be worthwhile to contact the restoration house to see if they might work a deal for you considering their recent involvement and just rotten luck.

Edit: and let that thing warm up a bit!

[daepp]

Originally Posted by JAR0023

When you pull the release the hood should only open a bit. That's the secondary safety catch working. I'm assuming you mean the main latch is not releasing cleanly? Can you pull the hood up enough with your hands to work the safety catch? I'm going to go with the hood striker is not perfectly aligned with the latch and it's hanging. You have left/right and some front/back adjustment with the striker and up/down with the latch. Once you get it open, watch closely as you close it and check for alignment of the striker into the main latch. Adjust as needed. -J

Unfortunately I spent no time doing any aligning in the dark. It's obvious now I should have. The hood does pop up some when I pull the cable, but not as much as it used to. I think I'll play around with some slim steel and see what I can do. It does not, however, pop up as high as it used to - I cannot get my fingers in to release the secondary latch - it is only popping up 1/4 to 3/8 of an inch.

[Jeff Burger]

get someone to pull and hold the release while you twist and push and pull up on the front corners of the hood - that usually will get the male part lose then you can get to the safety catch and release normally. If you have no one to help you can use a pair of vise grips to hold the release in the pulled position

Don't go crazy on the hood - also make sure the vise grips are on the metal shaft not the plastic

good luck

[theclaw]

Happened to my while driving my '72 Datsun pickup back in the '80s. Only I was on the highway and the hood didn't flop down. I was in the Air Force at the time and just considered it another inflight emergency. Except I wasn't flying, only doing about 65mph.

[Carguy59]

Happened to me with my 70 Bronco at night in sleeting rain, running about 70. Scared the hell out of me! Put a crease in the hood. An Oregon State Trooper helped me tie it down so I could continue my trip.

[irl]

Wow, glad your OK. Shocked there wasn't more damage.

[daepp]

Well, I got it open over the weekend. I just had to push it towards the rear as my son pulled on the cable. I have adjusted it back to where the prior marking indicate it was set. I will now be buying some Locktite.

Incidentally, someone has removed it before, as it did not have any lock washers on it. It does now!

So now I have to find some one or some way to remove the two dimples from the cowl. Anyone know if there is a way to access the underside of the cowl?

[irl]

Entire cowl is accessible, just have to remove things. Here is a shot with a piece cut out.

[bgyglfr]

That is a scary situation. I had a mgb gt for sale years ago and a guy came by to look at it the day before he test drove it (before i had a garage). He opened the hood and never latched it all the way closed. He proceeds to drive it the next day and destroys the hood. He had the nerve to try to beat me down because of the damage he caused. Freaking A$$ H. Still makes me angry when I think about it.

[Monza_dh]

I have the same issue with my cowl and have had a few dent guys say if they attempt to push out the dent the paint will crack and it will need painting. see my thread below.

Dent/Bodywork advise needed.

[michael lang]

I'm sorry that happened to you, how did you know to take the picture before that happened? Or was it just dumb luck?

[Arne2]

Ahh! I've often wondered what caused that exact cowl dent on the passenger side of my car, now I know. A close inspection shows a matching paint chip on the driver's side, as well as chips on both points of the lid corners.

FWIW, my car does have lock washers on both nuts holding the latch plate to the hood. Both are/were tight when checked today.

[daepp]

I just take a lot of photos. That morning I was just excited by the promise of the new day and the sun rising over San Gregornio and snapped a few fotos. Thirty seconds later the hood popped open - after I exited the freeway!

[daepp]

Monza - it cracked my paint so I have no option but to paint.