DopeAcura

Thank god I caught it or else In would have a huge knot on the back of my head. The shocks that hold my hood up are going out. I'm shocked because I've owned probably 5 cars that have a hood with that system and this is a first for me.

It stays up for about 3 seconds then just falls down. I was just checking my air filter and wiping the dust off the engine and I had to find a stick to hold my hood open!

Has anyone ever experienced this? I'm still under warranty and I'm headed to the dealer first thing in the morning.

Just an annoying unexpected issue to take up my precious day off from work.

potmilkz

probably just a bad shock(s)..

dealer will replace it. no worries..

i got 25k on my car, still strong.

lji

Yeah, no issues here either.... 22k on mine... Get it taken care of under warranty...

Teddybear

mine no longer opens on it's own, it'll stay up, but only if i lift it all the way up. if i lift it halfway, it'll just fall. I could've sworn when it was new, it sprung open on it's own. It nearly whacked me on it's way up the first time lol.

vinnier6

iTrader: (1)

mine never sprung open on its own....when i pop the hood, i need to get it started to atleast half way.....

Oswald Vater

Interesting - Our 09 Odyssey was recalled due to the tendancy of the rear liftgate struts to fail suddenly and unexpectedly. We haven't had it done yet but I wonder if the same strut is used on our TL's front hood?

justnspace

iTrader: (1)

74145-TK4-A01
74149-TK4-A01

LEft and right hood strut part numbers.
some one compare it to the honda one.

HEAVY_RL

iTrader: (1)

I see what you did there.

Shouldn't this be under warranty?

Shoot2Thrill

The 4g strut look very close to the 3g. Not saying they are the same but the removal/install is essentially the same. Technically, I'm sure the right and the left are the same except the head is rotated slightly. Allows Acura to charge more and keep the technician from screwing it up. At some level not worth going to the dealer for the logistics time and the dealer up sell. Aftermarket should be about $35 delivered and 15 minutes of labor taking time to watch the game with your beer.

justnspace

iTrader: (1)

^right.
rock auto sells this for the 3G. I tried to look for the 4G but couldnt get a solid answer from rock auto

Teddybear

sry, i should've been more specific. It would lift open after i lifted it about a foot or so, not from when i depressed the latch. currently, it wont lift itself at all, it'll just hold itself up.

Tonyware

If you want to save... or just for safety even if they work OK, get locking pliers or Vise-Grips and lock it in place where the gas spring meets the metal part. Its a bit of a ghetto solution, but it works.

Had that problem with Hondas for as long as I can remember... They open, stay up, and then a bit of wind blowing and the hood comes down smashing on your head! LOL.

Shoot2Thrill

That is a reasonable safety idea but you might want to put a piece of rubber or similar protection between the jaws and the shaft. Scratches on the shaft will wear the seal or create a leak path so to further degrade the gas spring.

Tonyware

Correct. Some of these two-dollar vise-grips are hard plastic and they hold pretty good.

It is interesting while searching the web for 74145-TK4-A01 and 74149-TK4-A01. Price ranges are huge. From $20 to $48. Tells you something about mark-up car parts have. Bet you the manufacturer sells them to suppliers for $10.

Bearcat94

They take about 2 minutes to replace .... literally. Looks like a $40 part (each) at the dealer parts desk.



I just changed them on our 2G, almost 11 years and 112k miles.

DopeAcura

Ok so my appt at the dealer is tomorrow morning. I just went outside to test the hood so I won't look stupid when the service guy tries to duplicate it. Of course it's working fine now. Should I still take it in?
It was drizzling when the problem first occurred. Could the little beads of water on the hood add enough weight to make the hood struts give out? If thats the case then I just have to accept that if its raining the hood wont stay open?

Shoot2Thrill

Colder temperature = less pressure, less force. Rain and more likely wind loading will also be a negative factor. I have a very low opinion of stealers. (Acura Survey called me tonight and on recent recall service of which I gave Springfield NJ Acura the lowest rating, but then I don't think that really means anything) Unless you are a dealer donator or subject to an up sell for something else I would see where Tonyware got the $20 each and be done with it. Literally a 10 minute job.

Edward'TLS

Yes, the colder the temp, the less likely it is for weakened or bad hood struts to hold up the hood.

Shoot2Thrill

The 4g strut is not the same as the 3g. 4g is larger in diameter by at least a 1/8" and about 1" longer extended. Same OEM.

kakins23

wow so this just happened to me yesterday! Mine is still under warranty so Ill be taking it in on monday!

zapco

Mine did too. Hit me in the head. Replaced with Tein RSX hood shocks.

AntSauce

iTrader: (2)

Hey Zap, thanks for the info. So those fit the 4G pretty good??

Samba

Thanks for the info here. Mine quit recently. I was in a local hardware store. There are two structs in the same dimensions, but one is rated 43lbs, the other is rated 57lbs. Does anyone know which one better fits our TL?

alex9119

mine is starting to do the same, good thing it didn't fall on your head

ucf_bronco

iTrader: (1)

Just got mine replaced under warranty a couple weeks ago. They've been acting up for a while but I was holding off since I don't like other people's hands on my car. Since I'm nearing the end of my CPO warranty it was time...along with a couple other items.

My tech told me he'd seen a customer recently with stitches in his head due to the same issue.

echodigital

I think age and weather affect them for sure. I have a 2009 TL and you do need to hold it when it's cold. It appears to be ok in spring/summer.

vinnier6

iTrader: (1)

Mine used to only fail when cold, now they don't work at all...I have a piece of pvc that I use to prop the hood up with now

RenoTL

I just replaced mine last week. The old one went bad almost overnight but the new ones are nice. Now, as you start to raise the hood, it goes up on its own. Well worth the $40 to replace and easy to do!

vinnier6

iTrader: (1)

Where did you get them....

RenoTL

I bought them through Amazon from a company called Lift Supports Depot. You can see them The cost with shipping was $45 and super easy to replace.

4GIRLS

Just did mine from same company, lifetime warranty, 5 minute fix. I used the top of my skull to hold the hood up once. Just once.

lji

Ha... I commented on this thread back in 2012, but mine have started to act up... This will be first thing to be filed under the extended warranty bought with the new car.