I have a 2001 GLE and have had the hood vibration problem from day one. Just had my dealer install the headlight kit as mentioned in the TSB on this. I thought at first it fixed it...however at 78 mph today I noticed "we're back". Is it possible that the area under the hood (driver's side) where the cut out area is (in insulation)with instructions is picking up additional wind currents? I noticed there is a "lip" where the frame meets the hood sheet metal there that could be catching wind turrents. This has gotten old...any more thougths? I'm quickly getting down to hood latch issues and I hate to get into elongating holes, etc.

 

There are 3 parts to the hood vibration "fix".

1. Install weatherstrips or seals along the top edge of the headlight assembly to prevent air from being forced up under the hood, causing the hood to vibrate up and down.

2. A small bumper is installed centered on the front edge of the hood near the latch. This provides tension on the hood when latched. It basically takes out some of the play in the hood latch mechanism.

3. Using adhesive to reattach the exterior skin to the cross brace assembly underneath. You'll have to remove the blanket from the underside of the hood to inspect this area. You'll see the material used to glue the hood panel to the brace.

My car has the fix installed but still has a slight vibration at speeds over 80mph or on a really rough road. It's better than it was.

One thing you can try is to raise the outside hood bumper stops slightly to see if the bounce goes away. They are on the frame just behind the headlight assembly. If you turn the bumpers they raise or lower, sorry that I don't know which way raises them. I did that until Nissan installed the TSB.

 

I had this problem also. I took it to a body shop where they move the latch down and adjusted the bump stops down. Now, everything sits flush and no flutter at highway speeds. God, isn't that the worst to see your hood jumping around and the rest of the car is fine....makes me feel like I just dropped some acid

 

I've got a new 2003 Maxima SE, and although the hood doesn't shake near as much as a couple of the 02's that I test drove, it definitely still vibrates some. Wasn't this supposed to be fixed by default for the 03's?

Also, my steering wheel vibrates only from 65-75 even after I had them force balance the tires, any chance that this is related. Typically unbalanced tires only get worse the faster you go, but at 75+ the car is smooth as can be. The bummer is that 65-75 is where I usually drive! :-(

 

Not really, I just had the tires on my truck re-balanced. They ran smooth up to 75mph and vibrated from there up to 80mph. Beyond that they ran smooth as silk. It doesn't sound logical for tires to behave like that.

 

ho much did you pay them for that fix? thanks

 

tires are built that way, vibration is built into the tire is they are not balanced correctly around 60-70 i think. another thing to consider would be to have ur car speed balance...where they balance the tire/rim on the car itself. that take into account irregularities in ur axle. try that. good luck.