[StudioGuy]

I was washing my 300 the other day and noticed that the hood, when closed is not aligned properly. It sits a little to the left. Is this something i can adjust or do i need to take it back to the dealer?

 

[vvv90]

I was washing my 300 the other day and noticed that the hood, when closed is not aligned properly. It sits a little to the left. Is this something i can adjust or do i need to take it back to the dealer?

I've heard of people having this before....It's an assembly line issue I guess....either adjust it yourself or take it in. The bodyshop can take care of this in a matter of minutes.

 

[Northern Rider]

The hood adjusts easily. It is designed this way. Just takes a minute.

 

[vvv90]

Body panels are never aligned right on mass produced cars.....Look around, you'll find more.

Especially look at where the plastic panels i.e. bumper ends.....Look at the seration where they formed and cut. :crazy:

 

[kevenj]

Body panels are never aligned right on mass produced cars.....Look around, you'll find more.

Especially look at where the plastic panels i.e. bumper ends.....Look at the seration where they formed and cut. :crazy:

Well they've come a long way though - - I remember when I was a kid my parents bought a brand new 1978 Cadillac Fleetwood.... the trunk lid had about a 3/8" gap on one side, and overlapped the rear quarter panel on the other side...i'm not making that up! But further forward, near the rear window it fit almost correctly..... no way you could adjust it because anyway you moved it would just change the location of the mis-alignment. In fact it was this particular car that caused my dad to NEVER buy a GM product again and he had been a loyal GM guy up till then. ( he's now the proud owner of a bright silver 2006 300C SRT8! ) No need to ask him how the quality compares to the last Caddy he bought!

 

[StudioGuy]

Northern Rider............

Can you explain how to do it, or are you going to make me find out on my own?

 

[CJ7VFR]

My 300C had the same thing. It was off to the left by about an 1/8 of an inch.
It seems that most people who have posted about this all had their hoods off to
the left. I bet the hood machine at the plant is not calibrated correctly.

Anyway, its very easy to adjust your hood.

If you open your hood, there is a bracket that is installed on the underside of the
hood, right near the front. This bracket is held in place by two bolts. Its this bracket
that engages the hood latch infront of your radiator support when the hood is closed.

All you have to do is loosen the two bolts holding the bracket to the hood slightly.
Don't loosen them too much, as then the bracket will move too much before you can
adjust it. If it does move too much before you can adjust it properly, just snug it
up some, and move it back to its original position. You will know where that is because
there will be no paint there. The hood is painted after the bracket is attached, so
you'll know where it goes.

Anyway, loosen it slightly, and move it to the LEFT about an 1/8 of an inch, but
NO MORE. Then tighten up the two bolts, and close your hood.

Your hood should now have moved 1/8 inch to the RIGHT, and should be aligned
correctly. If not, do the above step again, and move the bracket NO MORE than
an 1/8 of an inch. If you move it too much, you will then have to start playing with
the hood latch, and you really don't want to do that.

You should be good to go now! Remember, if your hood is off to the LEFT when its
CLOSED, then you have to move the hood bracket to the LEFT. If its off to the
RIGHT when its closed, then you move the bracket to the RIGHT.

Jim

 

[vvv90]

Well they've come a long way though

I agree. They certainly have.