lvn098

Hi All,

I have 08 ES350, last week, when I wash & wax the car, I found out the hood is not closing down 100%. Use my palm to push the hood down (near the front, just above the latch), it still has a little gap, about 1/8" and it's bouncing up and down, thus making noise.

So I went to check on my cousin's 2010 ES350, same thing, I then went to Lexus Dealer and tried on the hood of a new 2011 ES350, same problem. This seems to be only with ES, I also checked IS and LS as well and they are fine.

I talked to a Service Rep at Lexus and showed her the problem, she said since this is on a brand new ES, this means it was designed that way, but she could not tell me why.

She told me to contact Manufacture, but I would like those ES350's owners out there to check if this is a common problem or defect.

Please update.

Thanks,

oldgrump

Is the hood aligned (height) with the fenders? If so, with these cars including my 2011, this puts the front lip of the hood about 1/4" above the grill (in other words......about 1/4"-5/16" of the rubber seal strip between the grill and the hood is exposed. With mine it feels like there is about a sixteenth of an inch movement when I push down as you were doing. There are two round black rubber bumper/stops (one each at each front corner of the hood & just behind the headlight assemblies) that are adjustable as to their height (thread in to lower, thread out to bring up) and along with the latch adjustment (I'm sure this car is no different from any other in that the hood latch will be adjustable) should allow the hood to be "rigged" so that it is positioned/aligned correctly and latched properly. When latched it is normal to be able to push the hood down a little further and have the hood "spring back" and make a click sound as the hood striker contacts the underside of the latch hook when you suddenly stop pushing. The hood is flexible and is preloaded (or should be) against the two corner bumpers when latched. Too much preload can make it difficult to "pop" the hood.

lamikela1

+1 as my 2008 is the same. It appears to be designed that way.

lvn098

Well, I have raised a question with Lexus as why it was designed that way and why only on the ES models? The IS and LS's hoods are very tight and cannot be moved at all. I also tried on Honda Accord and some Toyota's.

They are looking into it and get back to me.

flowrider

iTrader: (9)

IMO it's manufacturing tolerance. On my wife's ES350 the hood is tight with no play at all, on my F there is play and the hood moves up and down when shut about the 1/8" everyone here is talking about. There are adjustable rubber bumpers under the hood and I have adjusted mine all the way up, but the movement is still there. The seam is straight and it causes me no problems, so I don't see this as an issue. In fact, I would have even looked if I had not seen this thread.

So, it's not an ES only issue.

Lou

LexPaul

I have not seen this problem on my 09. Could it be on just some ES's?