Read in a couple of posts about the body panels not being flush or uneven gaps...looks like I also have that issue.

Got my car out of state so to register it in CA need to get it smog. The guy opens the hood and closes it one one side. This reminded me that the manual says to close the hood from the front, otherwise the hood can get warped.

So I get home and inspected the hood and noticed BOTH sides where the hood and fender meet and not flush. I can't imagine the smog guy warping it, because both sides are uneven, so it points to a consistent build quality. See attached photo for the right side. The left side is the same.

I don't remember seeing this when I picked up the car. Granted I did not inspect the car very thoroughly. Maybe the Nevada heat warped it? Or the heat from the engine (just driving it around today I noticed it gets odd hot).

Anybody else have this issue? Not sure if it's worth trying to fix.

 

Having been on the Factory Tour and seen the amount of effort they put into getting the door, hood, and tailgate/boot lid gaps right, it would appear that something is now out of alignment.

Separately, aluminium/aluminum is a really good thermal conductor. It will get HOT. Have a look at the programme about the building of the Boyd Coddington aluminum hot rod.

 

The hood is not closed properly. Ignore how the manual says to close the hood - lower it most of the way, reach over to the middle of the hood near the windshield, and slam it. Otherwise, you get exactly what you're showing. My dealer demonstrated this for me. After closing, make sure it's flush. If not, open it and try again. I've had it close crooked plenty of times. Not a fit problem.

 

I agree with DJS. I had the same "problem"!

 

Thanks! I tried it a couple of times. Looks better, still not 100% flush but had to run back to work. Try again tonight but definitely looks better than before.

 

When I first looked at the car at my local dealer,the salesman told me to get the hood down most of the way and then put your hands on the hood louvers and slam it shut...you really have to apply pretty good pressure to close it...and that seems like the best way to get it to close properly.

 

Totally agree. Happened to me the first time also.

 

boy I feel like an idiot..still can't get it 100% flush. it's almost there, but just a tad off. going to have to try various techniques, pressures, drop angles. It's like rocket science trying to close this hood properly.

 

I have nothing helpful with my first post. I just had to respond to this thread. Although I have had many types of sports cars and been on many forums I have to say I have never seen a thread on hood closing. I got a really good laugh out of this. My F Type Coupe R should arrive to me late next week. Now I am not only looking forward to the car but this forum.

I am sure I will be back soon with some head scratcher.. At least I know what to do should I encounter this 'hood' issue.

Thanks

 

Ditto for me. Had the same look at the dealership. I thought it was bent. He popped the hood, we each took a side and gave it a solid closing, at it was flush again. You just have to make sure that it closes evenly and with some force.

 

The manual says to drop the hood, but I don't think it reliably latches on both sides. I reach over to the middle and slam it, and it always latches OK.

 

Yes.....in the past, Jaguar has had to resort to more extreme measures to keep that hood closed....

 

I have the same problem and thanks to you guys it will be fixed

 

Don't suppose you could enlighten us as to your intentions...

 

So frustrating. I must have opened/closed the hood 50 times last couple of days. Still can't get it to be flush. Brought it to the dealership this morning, guy said he needs his body shop guys to look at it so I need to bring it back Monday. The new car honeymoon period hasn't been great. Times like this want to just not have a car and use ZipCar!?!?