well ...top secret has a damper for our hood
but it is $$$$$$$$$$$$360


http://www.topsecretjpn.com/bonnetdamper.shtml

 

I highly doubt a damper would havre save his hood, it may have minimized damage.
If the hood is open, and takes a gust head on, it is gonne rip on the thing.

 

That's the one turnoff with the G35: prop rod. I was disappointed when I first saw that, especially when my 02 Maxima has hood struts.

Anyhow, Tein just came out with hood struts for the Z. So maybe they'll make one for the Skyline/G35 somepoint soon. And they only cost $125.

 

Composite? You mean 6061-T6 Aluminum is a composite?

 

One thing is for sure...its not steel. Out plastic # and "waiter" magnetic caps dont stick on the hoods. Are they aluminum? I dont know...I didnt build the car, I just work on them. I can tell you this: the T6 control arms that I had made for my camaro (RIP) bent like hell when I wrecked the car. Ive seen wrecked g35's and been in one when a trash truck back up into the front of the customer car I was driving and it made an /\ shape out of the hood, then when he went forward it flexed back like a composite, it didnt hold the bent shape. I used to have a burton T6 when I lived in colorado and not only did that thing bend but it snapped. Ive also replaced hoods and F-ed around with the dammaged ones taken off and you can bend them a complete 180* and it wont snap. It may be aluminum, but I dont know of any aluminums that flex and flex back.

I do not have the Tech training book for the g35, but the one that I have for the M (which shares the advanced front midship) states that it is a composite hood.

 

That's one of those things that I'll never get.
My previous car (2000 Maxima) had air struts for the hood - didn't have that ugly manual jack. Yet, this near-luxury car doesn't have a pair... Go figure...

 

I had the same thing happen as some of the posters here. I went to go help out a friedn who needed a jump. I parked the nose of my G next to his car popped the release under the sterring wheel. I was zipping my jacket up up adn then hear a gust of wind, some metal/toggling noise, then the hood flew open almost against my windshield!

I jumped out and tried to shut it and found it woulnd't close more than 30 degrees open or so. The hood damaegs both fenders by the A-pillars and, after some pulling by three guys to get it to stay on the latch, is warped/raised from the event.

Infiniti says it is an act of god. I say its a defective latch and a design flaw because there is no stopper by the hinges or a strong connection point for the hood rod (which is cheap for an infiniti). Ininift say that once I pull the release form the driver's side footwell, it is out of their hands.
I think that's BS. That means any G driver that poopes their hood latch could have that happen before they get to the front to even try and stop it from flying open.

Over $2k in damages!

I'm frustrated by this situation to say the least....any suggestions beside claiming it on insurance?

 

That really sucks to hear that this happened to you, but I for one appreciate you're posting about it so the rest of us can be aware of this potential hazard when working outside in windy conditions under the hood of a G35.

Our hoods are really light, so I guess I could see how this would happen. I'm always amazed at how little effort it takes to lift it in comparison to my Tacoma hood which is actually quite a bit smaller than that of my G.

 

I feel your pain, but didn't the secondary catch hold the hood down until you release it to fully open the hood?

Most of the people had the hood blowover in the open position, so I think you may have a better chance to get some resolve.

You should be able to open the release in your car, and then go out and release the second hood catch so you free the hood to open fully. That didn't happen in your case?

 

"at the track"

I don’t think insurance will cover it.

 

No, and that's the main problem, along with the rod and stopper issues. I was still inside the car when this happened. I heard a gust of wind, some metal/toggling noise (I assume it was the secondary latch getting jostled) and then the hood flew up and hear the fender edges crunching. I looked at the secondary catch and while it does seem to catch when I jam the hood shut, it seems loose. It will just stay to the left or right if I push it that way. Definitely doesn't pull to the side to catch the ring...

Still, Infiniti here in Chicago told me it was a "body shop" issue with out even inspecting the latch. How could they be sure? Don't they make money off of warranty repairs, so long as they're valid? I don't see why they're being presumptious.

Even Consumer Affairs is telling me that they cant be responsible if the wind caused the secondary latch to release.

I also have concerns about the hood flying up if I need to open it while outside. Its not like I opened it up in a tornado.

As much as I like my G, and I really do, there have been a lot of recalls, service issues (at least in Chicago) and now this, which inclines me to buy take my business elsewhere.

 

Sounds like Delta Airlines... When I got stranded in Atlanta, because of high winds, from a nearby hurricane, my flight to Munich got cancelled. Anyways, they said they were under no obligation to help me out with a hotel, food vouchers, or refund of tickets (was going to miss all my meetings, because they couldn't get me onto another flight for 2 days), becuase "High winds are an act of God".

However, I pointed out that several months prior, I was stranded in both Boston and Cincinatti because of a snow storm for several days. And Delta Airlines picked up the tab for food vouchers, and hotel stay... They told me that "Snow is weather related.... But high winds, are an act of god"

 

Just use common sense and you won't have these issues.

John

 

John you're obviously infiniti employee. I live in Chicago, things aren't easily definable as "downwind" even if i tried to determine it. Please tell me the common ense you're suggesting?

Common sense tells me that the secondary latch for my hood should work as designed. i.e. to keep my hood locked down until I manually release it. Someone using common sense would say an inspection of the car's part that is in question is neceessary before a conclusion is made.

What am I supposed to do if I need to open my hood while outside by myself? Am I automatically risking the hood will fly up? Sounds like an inferior product if so...

 

dont mind the trolls. I would fight this one and get insurance involved as a last resort. good luck.