My hood starts to flutter noticeably at around 110 mph and is a little worrysome. I have taken the car up to 140 on, lets say, a private airstrip. The flutter was there the whole time from 110 on up, with the part actually fluttering located in about a 1 square foot area centered and just forward of the windshield. It flutters up/down 3/4 of and inch or so. What I want to know is: Does anybody else have this problem? Should I worry about it? How can I fix it?

Also, if you're going to flame me for going too fast don't bother.

TIA!

Pat

 

Think about the wind and pressure hitting the car at 110+. No **** the hood is gunna flutter. Amazing thread, thanks for wasting our time.

 

Having topped out in my car once (I took it out to a local track day at Irwindale Speedway a couple years ago), I can tell you that unless you regularly abuse your maxima with hard turns, redlining, and extreme weather conditions, the hood should be sitting very solidly against your engine bay. I think you should consider having the stealership take a look at the seals around your windshield (if that is what is shaking) and the locking mechanisms that hold the hood down. Also check the pneumatic hood pieces and anything else that could either be pushing the hood unevenly and causing it to shake or "lift" under extreme wind conditions that come with 90+mph speeds. As a young guy myself, I know how thrilling it can be to go really fast, but let's be honest: you drive a four door sedan. Yes, it is sporty and feels like a car that can do anything you want it to, but from firsthand experience, let me just say that it is far from perfect in that arena and it will lose control if you push its limits. Just cruise. It's a sexy beast of a car and should be respected as such. Anyways, Happy Bolt and Screw Tightening!

 

Wow dude, whats up your azz.


Please don't think we all respond to questions the same as this jerk.

He is correct though, I don't think you have anything to worry about.

 

A few weeks ago, I noticed that my hood began to flutter near the top-center portion of the hood as well. Then, about a week ago during a trip to a neighboring city, it began to flutter much more wildly and made lots of noise at anything over 70 MPH. I took the nearest exit and took a peek under the car - the black trim under the nose of the car had come loose (all of the rear plastic pegs had come out) and it was just flapping really hard against the road and the car, pushing up air into the engine compartment and pushing the hood up. I wonder if maybe some of your plastic pegs have come lose on your trip piece and since it is more attached to your car than mine that it requires much higher speed to start it flapping? Dunno, just a thought - but mine behaved similarly, only at a slower speed.

Also, Nissan has redesigned these little plastic pegs... after the dealer replaced this piece I took a look and it looks like they just used screws this time.

 

Thanks Monotaur!

I never noticed it until you said something, but sure enough I had two of the plastic pegs you mentioned missing. Found a some replacements at Advance Auto, reattached securely, and the flutter is gone.

I think some of you got the wrong impression of me. I don't regularly do this kind of speeding, but on the rare occasion I crank her up on open roads when no one's looking I just like to know the hood isn't going to fly off!

So, there ya go, check your undercarriage...

 

You should just take that plastic POS off. Many have come to the conclusion that when they took it off, their shimmy went away. The thing serves almost no purpose either.

 

I thought it was for aerodynamics?

 

It hurts aerodynamics. Have you looked under the car? There is a giant lip that flaps against the wind on the piece in question...

Joshua

 

 

you alll have anger problems i tell you... i would hate to see you guys in the streets with road rage!!!!!