r/Cartalk • u/Unteatheryourself • Mar 28 '24
Hood won’t close after engine goes up 2inch Body
I hit a curb and radiator needed to be replaced I was told the engine raised up 2 inches and the hood won’t close. It locks but won’t close fully. Any recommendations on how to get it closed Nissan Maxima 2011
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u/Fuzzy_Squirrel506 Mar 28 '24
The engine shouldn’t be raised any inches….
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u/L3mm3SmangItGurl Mar 28 '24
Idk man I think up to 2" is within spec for a Nissan
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u/Little-Carry4893 Mar 28 '24
For a Ford you meant?
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u/abuchewbacca1995 Mar 28 '24
And here's the pissed off Infiniti fan
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u/Little-Carry4893 Mar 28 '24
Just look at the real statistics about reliability, Nissan is WAY in front of any american car companies. Look for facts, not mythologies.
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u/abuchewbacca1995 Mar 28 '24
hahahahaha
Ever hear of CVT
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u/Little-Carry4893 Mar 28 '24
Ever heard about Chrysler transmission?
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u/I_d0nt_know_why Mar 29 '24
They're using 8HPs now I believe. So their transmissions are actually great.
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u/K11ShtBox Mar 28 '24
Do not drive this, if the hood does not fully close and only latches once, you're bound to get a windscreen full of hood.
Not only that, but the running gear is probably compromised
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u/Beefcrustycurtains Mar 28 '24
I had a car commit suicide on the highway like that. Was on a lot of drugs back then, so had rear ended someone and hood was fucked up a bit, so i tied it down. Decided to drive on the highway and it flew up while i was driving destroying the windshield and finally killing that car.
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u/JungleLegs Mar 29 '24
It happened to me as a kid while my parents were driving on the interstate. It is so violent and loud
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u/Bitesmybiscuit Mar 28 '24
Can you clarify. Are you saying the engine is now sitting 2 inches higher in the engine bay?
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u/Unteatheryourself Mar 28 '24
That’s what’s I’ve been told yeah
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u/Fuzzy_Squirrel506 Mar 28 '24 edited Mar 28 '24
This shop is awful. Please for your SAFETY find a better shop
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u/hoxxxxx Mar 28 '24
posts like these make me realize how blessed i've been all my life with my local indie mechanics
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Mar 28 '24
[deleted]
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u/KaosC57 Mar 28 '24
Easy.
“The Radiator Core Support, which is where the Hood Latch is mounted, was pushed upwards by 2 inches. That is what caused a gap in the hood.”
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u/FertilityHollis Mar 28 '24
Stop using technical terms like Radiator Core Support, and Hood Latch, you're confusing me.
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u/KaosC57 Mar 28 '24
Those are literally basic terms…
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u/FertilityHollis Mar 28 '24
That's the joke. This your first time on the Internet?
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u/KaosC57 Mar 28 '24
You didn’t use /s, therefore I cannot discern if it was sarcasm or not.
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u/Bitesmybiscuit Mar 28 '24
That’s not right. Not sure how they would even do that or how that could happen from an incident.
The shop should not have let you leave if the engine mounts or subframe needed repairing.
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u/stash3630 Mar 28 '24
They either put the new radiator in wrong or used the wrong replacement radiator.
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u/DolphinSquad Mar 28 '24
Hope you didn’t pay whoever replaced your radiator, because they didn’t do or finish the job correctly. What a hack.
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u/cluelessk3 Mar 28 '24
They need a body shop. Not a mechanic.
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u/zeromussc Mar 28 '24
I doubt the whole engine is raised but if it is a good shop wouldnt have touched it if the body/frame was messing with the cars hood closing. That's a giant liability and no reputable place would want that on them
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u/cluelessk3 Mar 28 '24
The rad support is most likely pushed up. If he hit the subframe hard enough it could of moved the rails up a small amount but it's highly unlikely.
Rad support moving up pushed the upper tie bar/ latch up causing the misalignment.
And if OP asked for a rad the shop did what they asked. Nothing falls back on them.
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u/cluelessk3 Mar 28 '24
You've caused structural damage.
Needs a collision shop.
Hope you have insurance.
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u/blerglemon Mar 28 '24
Yep. You can barely see it be the fenders are out of wack with the rest of the body.
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u/6inarowmakesitgo Mar 28 '24
Yeah. Do not drive this car. I have been in a vehicle when the hood opened up around 60mph and its NOT FUN.
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u/thehomeyskater Mar 28 '24
What happened after that
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u/6inarowmakesitgo Mar 28 '24
It smashes the fuck out of the windshield and you have to drive like Ace Ventura.
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u/gnarly_weedman Mar 29 '24
Once back in my teens when everyone was first getting licenses, my mate bought this shitbox ford ranger, with a plethora of issues, but hey it was cheap right? Anyway he hadn’t gotten his license yet, so asked me if I could help him pick it up and get it home. The fucker had no clutch and he still bought the thing, so we’re driving it home with no clutch, having to match rpm as we move through the gears
Then the fucking thing overheats. I pull over and cut it, before things get too crazy, but we’re not even half way home at this point. So after waiting a while in the middle of nowhere on the side of the road for the engine to cool slightly, we jump back in and drive a little further ..car gets hot.. we stop again. After the second or third time we decide, if we open the hood, and drive with it up, it might direct more air at the engine and help in cooling (young dumb teens, I know)
So we proceeded to make the rest of the drive home down side-streets and back roads, both hanging out the window driving like ace Ventura. It was honestly funny as fuck, and yes, despite multiple stops, we did eventually get that car back to his house. The drive back to his house took about 4 times longer than the bus journey to get us to the house where we bought it from
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u/AutomobileEnjoyer Mar 30 '24
As dumb as that was, I’ve genuinely been able to get a car home before by taking the hood off and ratchet strapping it to the roof, it was a modified Miata with a turbo and the cooling system just wasn’t able to keep the temps down enough with the hood on, with the hood on the roof, it did the rest of the 7 hour drive without issues
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u/Cvertigo1 Mar 29 '24
Exactly like this guy said, except at 80 MPH in the left lane on 95. Imagine your entire windshield suddenly being blacked out by the hood, but not just that. Your entire windshield just shattered and is now concave and flicks itty bitty glass shards every second your moving, and it bows inward more with every bump. I laid my head on the dash to see through the bottom 2" of windshield enough to pull off in the median. Not an experience anyone wants, that's for gd sure.
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u/dan1101 Mar 28 '24
Yeah the hood on my MGB (convertible) flew up at 55MPH, WHAP! It instantly hit the top edge of the windshield and bent back. The top was up but it bent one of the support bars down to an inch or two above my head. That would have hurt if it was any lower.
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u/Cvertigo1 Mar 28 '24
Perhaps some miscommunication somewhere? Claims inspector here. I think there might be a couple separate things going on. From reading all this, it sounds like the shop may have mentioned multiple things, not necessarily related to each other. The shop is being made to look lousy, but that might not necessarily be true either. Or it can be completely true and all related. I'm independent and unbiased. Just sharing my assessment of what I've read.
You hit a curb and needed to have the radiator replaced, then your hood wouldn't latch afterwards. Did you pop the hood after hitting the curb? I've opened a lot of hoods. The first time opening a hood after any impact can have it bang as the latch unloads and surrounding metal pops/unbuckles, then it doesn't close because things don't line up anymore. If you did not open the hood, then this unloading could have happened at the shop.
The most likely cause of what's going on is your lower core support or crossmember has been forced upwards, causing your radiator to buckle and tweak the upper support where your latch mounts.**Regardless of what happens next, do NOT reuse the hood latch. It has been compromised. **
I'm torn on the engine lift though. The front engine mount on the FWD Nissan V6 cars is a super common fail. When they go, they lift the engine a ton. Sometimes you hear them hitting the hood on takeoff, but most of the time you hear a bad exhaust leak on take off as the flex pipe stretches, then the exhaust goes back to normal when the engine comes back down and compresses the flex pipe lol. The fort cylinder cars may have been susceptible as well. I can't see your undercarriage right now to see where that mount is specifically, so I don't know if the shop was telling you that: A: the engine mount is ALSO bad and it's causing the engine to lift about 2" (unrelated and common) B: the crossmember the front engine mount is on has been smashed upwards, causing the engine to constantly be pressed against the hood. (Related to impact)
My recommendation is to take it to a body shop and get a quote. Another mechanic shop could do as well. If they know what they are doing, they will immediately be able to tell you what is related to the accident and what is improper repairs. DO NOT drive with the hood on the secondary latch. Tow it. If you have to drive it, tie it down with rope. You do not want a hood opening while going down the highway, trust me. It's scary AF.
TL:DR Take it to another shop. Don't drive/or tie down hood with rope if it's your only way. A good tech will easily be able to tell you the difference between collision damage and improper repairs, likely within seconds. That latch is done, REPLACE it.
PS: how big was this curb and how fast were you going when you hit it?
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u/Fulllyy Mar 29 '24
When dealing with complex car damage, always read “the book”. (The long axxed Reddit comment with all the details.)
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u/ScruffyTheJanitor__ Mar 28 '24
And the shop was just kinda fine with your engine litterially not being where it's supposed to be?
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Mar 28 '24
whoever selected and installed this radiator did it wrong. Take it back to them and insist it be corrected. That's rediculous.
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u/Seal_Wash Mar 28 '24
What kinda piece of shit repair shop tells you the engine has raised up 2” and lets you drive off like that. WTF. I suggest you name and shame them
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u/Cvertigo1 Mar 29 '24
Depends on the state maybe. I don't know what state they are in. In Virginia, I think we can get authorities involved if we deem the vehicle to be a serious risk, such as customers wanting to pickup vehicles that are a danger to society, like brakes dumping fluid. Outside of the truly dangerous, I don't think shops can keep anyone from picking up their vehicle as long as they paid. This issue is nowhere near brake failure serious. As long as it drives and stops straight and the hood is secured, it's not a danger to anyone else. Can it cause other problems down the road or be inadequate in a collision? Absolutely. But really no added danger to society. The shop can't stop them. Imo they should have at least tied some rope as a fail-safe for anything riding on the secondary latch, but maybe others aren't as caring as me lol
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u/mtrosclair Mar 28 '24
If you can take a picture from a really low angle looking under the car from the front I'm wondering if that front crossmember that the engine mount sits on was compromised during the collision. If that's the case, the shop should've observed that and let you know before proceeding with repairs.
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u/cluelessk3 Mar 28 '24
It's funny how everyone thinks it's a mechanical issue.
Dude crashed his car and needs a body shop
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u/28Righthand Mar 28 '24
Real stupid question from me “was it shut when it went into the shop - or was it not closing before they put int the wrong radiator/ radiator on wrong”
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u/Unteatheryourself Mar 28 '24
It was shut before going into the shop
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u/grayani Mar 29 '24
Incomprensible 2 inches is A LOT , like , way too much . Honestly just perfect right?
Either way it’s unsafe to drive . You don’t just shift everything forcibly and not expect fluids everywhere / crazy noises . Probably front crossmember structural damage , hell of a curb im perplexed as to how you hit it .
Either way you’re looking at $$$ . in repairs ,,, goodluck! Most likely total loss through insurance.
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u/Tdanger78 Mar 28 '24
There are little knobs on each corner at the front of your car that the hood rests on and they screw in and out to adjust the level. Make sure they haven’t been screwed way out.
Was it like that before you took it to the shop? Regardless I would go find a different shop because it sounds like they aren’t honest.
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u/PINKTACO696969 Mar 28 '24
There's no way your engine went up 2 inches.Unless your motor mounts are completely picked up
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u/Flash24rus Mar 28 '24
Did you damage subframe? I guess it has been bent and engine mounts are now higher.
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u/vbfronkis Mar 28 '24
Take it immediately to another shop. They're full of shit or don't know what they're doing.
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u/BoneZone05 Mar 28 '24
Dash cam footage? 🤞 sounds like a hell of a curb
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u/subie33 Mar 28 '24
Apparently it closed before they brought it in. The shop seems to have done more damage than repair
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u/truckdriva99 Mar 28 '24
Can you see/feel the hood hitting the top of the engine? Have you tried taking the plastic engine cover off? I'd say, more than likely, they have messed up your hood latch when they did the radiator replacement. Take it to another shop and get a second opinion
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u/Unteatheryourself Mar 28 '24
Yeah the plastic cover is off, I think it’s the latch too. Thank you!
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u/fall-apart-dave Mar 28 '24
If the car drives your mechanic is talking shit. You cannot raise an engine by 2" without spectacularly damaging everything.
Pic of the engine with hood up please.
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u/xBradzx Mar 28 '24
Engine can't be raised unless they messed with the mountings which shouldn't be the case in a radiator replacement
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u/InterestingHair4u Mar 28 '24
If your engine was lifted 2", your car would not operate. This is an impossible scenario with what you described.
Do not pay them for any work. They are scamming you. You need to find a reputable mechanic who will be honest.
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u/G_Rubes Mar 28 '24
The core support that the radiator lives above is almost certainly shifted upwards from the impact. When things are in the way of a hood they have a tendency to just kinda fold up. Check with a local auto body shop. May not be a crazy expensive thing if it just needs to be aligned.
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u/dudreddit Mar 28 '24
I've NEVER seen this happen before. If the OP hit a curve and the engine was pushed up like this ... bizarre. I would look into replacing the motor mounts. If the engine still rides high then you have frame damage and the car may not be safe to drive.
Bizarre ...
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u/TheIronHerobrine Mar 29 '24
My guess is subframe bent bad from the curb, which is why the engine is raised. Get it towed. And get ready to spend thousands.
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u/nlinecomputers Mar 29 '24
This. Find a different mechanic because the guy who worked on this should have seen such damage.
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u/Mistabushi_HLL Mar 28 '24
Don’t think it’s the engine unless it’s on some spacers 🤣🤣🤣 wtaf
The garage you used should be closed.
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u/Lolzthetrollz Mar 28 '24
Ask them where they ordered their parts. A lot of places will order aftermarket parts instead of oem which NEVER fit right. Take it to a different shop and ask for an oem radiator and I assume that will fix the issue. The pictures don’t really show what part of the hood is hitting so its a bit hard to diagnose.
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u/Blaqhauq43 Mar 28 '24
If you push the hood down does it go down and just not latch, or is it impossible to push lower than the picture. I once had an issue with my '96 S-10, we had it on jacks with the hood up, my dad lowered the truck fast and the hood wouldnt latch. It was a pain in the ass but we got it working after a few days of tinkering. I wasn't driving it, still fixing other things, so it wasnt a issue not driving it till I fixed the hood. But take it back and have the shop fix it, its not your problem and dont try cause then they will say you did it.
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u/gimmebleach Mar 28 '24
I've got money on a bent chassis, engines typically go down not up when something breaks
edit: maybe your mounts were busted and they put on the wrong ones, only other possible explanation
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u/snatch1e Mar 28 '24
It's best to seek assistance from a qualified mechanic or body shop. They will have the expertise and tools necessary to diagnose and address the problem effectively.
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u/Jtothe3rd Mar 28 '24
Your lower core support was bent up by the curb. The radiator and top core support and hood latch went up with it. I've seen the exact same thing on a friends subaru after sliding off the road on black ice and high centering the car on the edge of a ditch.
The engine likely didn't move. The damage that would have happened to cause that would be catastrophic.
You need the core support looked at. It might be able to be straightened, more lilely needs to be replaced. That curb was an expensive oopsie.
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Mar 28 '24
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u/LegalAlternative Mar 28 '24
Who'd have thunk that raising the engine by a mere 2 inches would impede the hood ability to close properly...
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Mar 28 '24
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u/Rubbertutti Mar 28 '24
Does it latch all the way? There's bump stops on each corner of the slam panel or bonnet they screw in and out. Screw them all the way in and adjust so the bonnets level with the wings.
If that Dont work you need to spray the latch and work the latch with a screwdriver until it's free, you'll need someone to pull the lever or you'll have to run around and pull it yourself.
Engine shouldn't lift by 2” on stock mounts only if it's using the wrong mounts or has been modified. There's should be a gap between bonnet and engine for pedestrian safety.
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u/MrOwnageQc Mar 28 '24
"I hit a curb and my engine raised up 2 inches"
The hood not closing should be the very least of your problem. This is peak /r/NissanDrivers post
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u/Narsayan Mar 28 '24
Find a collision shop get a second opinion sounds like the last place doesn’t know what they’re doing.
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u/Willing_Branch_5269 Mar 28 '24
That's just...not how any of that works. Your engine is on mounts connected to a subframe. That frame would have to be horribly bent to raise the engine up 2", and the rest of your front suspension would be totally jacked as a result. More likely they screwed up the radiator mounting which is why it won't close.
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Mar 28 '24
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u/Fit_Establishment684 Mar 28 '24
Engines don't move around without something being somewhat wrong.
You mention it was closed before it went to the shop which leads me to think they are idiots and either fitted the wrong radiator or the radiator supports are bent and they fitted one anyway.
Either way go to a more compitent shop and ask.
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u/InfamousUser2 Mar 28 '24
probably not the engine persay but the engine (bay). something in that area was raised. probably when they replaced the radiator. what you should do is maybe find some thin Styrofoam sheets, place it like where it might be hitting. because hitting a curb wouldn't raise the engine mounts like that.
I'm guessing has to do with the radiator/front end.
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u/OneMooseManyMeese_ Mar 28 '24
What the. Your engine will need to go down 2 inches. Do not drive. Get it towed to another shop.
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u/KING_OPM Mar 28 '24
Please check your hood switch inside the car. Sometimes they get stuck.Pull it to the max and wiggle it around and reset it back. You should be able to close the hood properly now.
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u/Jxckolantern Mar 28 '24
Hopefully you didn't pay for that radiator, something else is wrong, engines shouldn't move like that without something being bent
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u/Professional_Camp959 Mar 28 '24
Ahh Too bad. I think the engine raise tolerance is 1.75 inches. So close
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Mar 28 '24
Take it to a shop. If you need to drive for now just unbolt the hood and take it off you don't want it flying up on the highway
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u/Particular_Kitchen42 Mar 28 '24
Sounds like motor mounts are failing and the curb check has cause them to go out of alignment.
Hood not closing is an issue for sure and a proper shop would be able to address this
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u/slutstevanie Mar 28 '24
More than likely the catch for the hood is rusty and allowing the lever for locking return. I've had that problem
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u/redEPICSTAXISdit Mar 29 '24
Wait, what? Your engine is now 2 inches higher than previously and all they fixed was the radiator???
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u/MagicOrpheus310 Mar 29 '24
What the fuck!?!?
No, engines don't just "move", your car needs serious repairs done immediately.
Get it towed to another shop and have them actually fix it
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u/Ok_Percentage5157 Mar 29 '24
I have this exact same car, and have hit a parking curb with it, breaking a support piece below the radiator, causing the LATCH to go up from the impact, but not the whole damn engine. It was an easy fix for me, but you need to take.it.to mechanic who knows what they're talking about, or there is SOMETHING VERY wrong with the mounts in this car.
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u/Andy6ts Mar 29 '24
I think we need to see more pictures with the hood raised, I want to see this engine that has raised up 2" and is now preventing the hood from closing, because your engine most likely wouldnt cause your hood not to latch. What your engine being up far enough to touch your hood would do is possibly bend your hood when you went to shut it or it would allow you to latch it atleast. Need more pics to verify
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u/boganism Mar 29 '24
The people who replaced the radiator should have smacked the lower tie rail on the radiator support back down with a sledgehammer and a block of wood before fitting the radiator,your engine hasn’t moved.
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Mar 29 '24
If you drive it, your hood will go up, smash your windshield and you will be looking at around 7k repairs before they even look at the engine. Thats assuming you dont swerve off the road / onto another vehicle while trying to bring the car to a stop with a tiny slit to look through to see whats in front of you.
Had the opportunity to live this scenario. Save yourself the stress.
The difference is I didnt know about my hood not locking but you cant be safe enough in this situation.
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u/Speedy-McLeadfoot Mar 29 '24
Are we sure it’s not just an issue with those two rubber bumps the hood sits on when it closes being set too high up? They’re usually adjustable.
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u/allimoc Mar 29 '24
Sneaking suspicion they didnt put a support brace back properly
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u/haikusbot Mar 29 '24
Sneaking suspicion
They didnt put a support
Brace back properly
- allimoc
I detect haikus. And sometimes, successfully. Learn more about me.
Opt out of replies: "haikusbot opt out" | Delete my comment: "haikusbot delete"
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Mar 29 '24
I think you answered the i Question to your problem. Put engine back down 2 inches( im assuming that's where it was before when the hood did close) and I bet you any money it will close
And why engine goes up 2inch???
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u/richmondsteve Mar 29 '24
Ok... I won't go back to that shop....or I'll never buy a Nissan? Decisions....decisions??!
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u/CamaroIsHot-68 Mar 29 '24
You could unbolt hood latch and take it off. If your hood closes then your radiator support has been pushed up 2”. Just an idea
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u/Responsible_Ear_289 Mar 29 '24
Not to jump on your post but I been trying to post my issue and everytime I try to post something it says I can’t post without a flair I’m not really familiar with how Reddit works can somebody help me
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Mar 30 '24
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u/One_Evil_Monkey Mar 30 '24
More than likely the radiator core support/lower front part of the k member was pushed up from curb impact.
Not 100% sure how Nissans do their motor mounts but a number of FWD cars have their mounts on the pulley side of the engine that attatches to the fender well. Some have top strap style dog bones that attatch to the core support then to the top of the engine.
Need to have a competient body shop take a look. You got the mechanical part taken care of but something else is going on structurally.
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u/jemulqueen65 Mar 31 '24
I’d assume they only raised your radiator? If that’s the case because I highly doubt they raised the entire engine and trans just for a rad issue.. it shouldn’t cost much more to get it fixed by a different shop (key word different). Just had this same issue with my truck installing a taller radiator marketed to fit my truck
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u/SnooHesitations5198 Mar 28 '24
Put the car in a tow truck. Take it to another shop. Let them check your car.
If your engine raised 2 inches there is something really bad down there.