I definitely need some new hood struts. Any suggestions or advice when choosing new ones?

 

You can buy the OEM ones wit h the locking mechanism when they're open but they are like 80 bucks a piece. You can get regular ones for about 30 a piece.

 

On my car, as I understand it, there is one locking and one regular. Can't help you beyond that.

 

I bought mine from autohausaz.com.

 

There is 3 ways you can fix this

1 - Buy new OEM struts or have yours re-gassed
2 - Fit struts from a different car I used Nissan which hold the bonnet up much higher but you need to hold it down to close the latch - the benefit with this is I also replaced the fasteners so my struts are quick release.
3 - Remove 1 old strut use a section of PVC pipe which is just large enough to fit over the strut. Cut is so it fits between the Cylinder and end so when the bonnet is up this pipe holds the strut open.

 

dont put pvc on your effin jaguar man.

go buy the right struts.

i got Uro ones off of ebay for a total of 40 dollars maybe. idk if its different for your year

 

I bought a pair for mine from Napa, $35.00 each and worked out great!

 

PVC: Not for me, but I see his aim and it's logical enough.

I tell you, though, that the factory system with that ridiculous lock is by far the most infuriating and needlessly tedious device ever crafted by man. It is intolerable.

I'll be replacing the system with some more heavily charged pistons, as well as fitting a conventional hood support for safety.

If the hood could be opened from one side without flexing so much, I'd simply fit two conventional supports.

 

ok ok so i have heard of this a couple of times.

what exactly is on the later cars?? Is there any chance of just converting them to how the earlier ones are setup?

 

I used 2 struts from a Nissan Pulsar and replaced the the mounts with ball type the new struts clip on and off (makes removing the bonnet easy) and holds the bonnet up slightly higher.

Only difference is you need to hold the bonnet down while you engage the locking handle. I can do it alone with the door open.

 

I'll be replacing mine, but while I'm sorting things out I got a Lift Lock (by Pylon part 8200) from Advance Auto. Probably not a long term solution but for a few bucks it works fine and it's black so it doesn't show like PVC.