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hood won't stay open, it closes automatically

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Old 12-11-2003, 05:10 PM
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hood won't stay open, it closes automatically

I just bought my car about 2 weeks ago and I noticed the hood will not stay open for more than a minute. Has anyone else had this same problem and if so what did you do. I am going to be installing my stereo this weekend or the next and that will very annoying to have to keep opening up the hood.
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Old 12-11-2003, 05:12 PM
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Originally Posted by climaxing
I just bought my car about 2 weeks ago and I noticed the hood will not stay open for more than a minute. Has anyone else had this same problem and if so what did you do. I am going to be installing my stereo this weekend or the next and that will very annoying to have to keep opening up the hood.
Go down to a parts store an pick up some StongArm hood struts. They are like $20. Look through the 4th gen FAQs for the exact part #. In the mean time, hold the hood up with a broom stick or something.
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Old 12-11-2003, 05:29 PM
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Just did this myself - happy with the result, so far.

(The result being not getting randomly hit in the head anymore by a hood with a mind of it's own. . .)
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Old 12-11-2003, 05:30 PM
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make sure you keep the receipt cuz those thing will not last long...
However, since it has life-time warranty you sould be fine as long as you have the receipt.
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Old 12-11-2003, 05:34 PM
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http://www.thetoolwarehouse.net/shop/LIS-44870.html


pick one of these up too. i plan on buying one soon.
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Old 12-11-2003, 05:35 PM
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Originally Posted by sickmen
make sure you keep the receipt cuz those thing will not last long...
However, since it has life-time warranty you sould be fine as long as you have the receipt.
Thanks for the heads up - yeah I had read some people had problems with the longevity of the Strongarm product, but for the price, there aren't a whole lot of options out there. Certainly not going to spend mad$$$$$ for the OEM replacements & I just got tired of propping my hood up with a piece of wood - looked soooo hack.
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Old 12-11-2003, 05:42 PM
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Originally Posted by Jepht20
http://www.thetoolwarehouse.net/shop/LIS-44870.html


pick one of these up too. i plan on buying one soon.
This seems like something you'd use on failing/failed hood struts, not functioning ones. In theory, the brass is less likely to damage the stainless steel piston-rod of the hood strut because it is a softer metal, but I wouldn't be using anything metal to screw-clamp onto that machined surface on a functioning strut. One little nick is all it would take & bye-bye seal - then the strut is phucked for good.

If your struts are already shot, great, good stopgap idea if you don't wanna spring for new ones, but if it ain't broke as they say, don't fix it. Or in this case, don't break it!
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Old 12-11-2003, 06:08 PM
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someone said that shops use these if you're leaving your hood open for a prolonged time. i imagine if you use it correctly, you won't have a problem. plus, if it damaged my strong arm, i'd just pick up another one for $9.99
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Old 12-11-2003, 06:14 PM
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you can also save up some $$ by searching through local junk yard for hood stick. (me and nadir_s both got one )
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Old 12-11-2003, 08:31 PM
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Mine are dead too, but to hold up the hood, just open the hood all the way. Now take a locking wrench (like a Vise-Grip) and put it where the piston comes out. Now the wrench will stop the piston from going back into the strut thing so the hood will stay open If I only had a pic of it...
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Old 12-12-2003, 01:00 AM
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Damn mine too...it seems that all hood struts go out really fast. I just use a rock and put that under the hood to hold it up. I was thinking about getting the rock carbon fiber to go with the valve cover.
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Old 12-12-2003, 02:19 AM
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Originally Posted by JaTaN
Mine are dead too, but to hold up the hood, just open the hood all the way. Now take a locking wrench (like a Vise-Grip) and put it where the piston comes out. Now the wrench will stop the piston from going back into the strut thing so the hood will stay open If I only had a pic of it...
yea that works as well. I see a few people doing that, only thing is....it looks F-A-B-O
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