Engine Louvre doesn't go up high enough

[RammJaeger]

This weekend at the SEDEC tech session I installed new struts on my engine louvre as it wouldn't stay up at all, and the struts were leaking fluid like crazy. Right after I put them on the engine louvre went up and stayed up in the right position, and then I could raise up the engine cover and latch it at the bottom properly. And all day that day they were fine. Today I went to check my oil, and the engine louvre now doesn't seem to go as high as it did a few days ago, and it won't go high enough for me to latch the engine cover at the bottom. Any ideas what has happened? Do these struts "self adjust" and decide to not extend as far as before? They have only been on the car a couple of days. I pushed pretty hard to try and get them to raise up higher, but no luck so far.

[Dangermouse]

Assuming there is nothing binding the louver, I would disconnect each side separately and see if it is one strut in particular. I don't think they self adjust.

[refugeefromcalif]

Just a thought but, Double check that the top part of the louvre isn't hitting the back of the T panel.

That's a similar issue that I have right now. While my louvre will open all the way, I have to push down the back of the T panel, then open the louvre or they bind and won't open.

George

[dn010]

+1 on that. Mine used to hit and bind too, and it's better to find this out sooner than later so check yours out!

One day I was doing something so I asked my wife as a favor to open the engine compartment. She didn't realize it would bind and you had to push the T panel down manually - and I didn't think to tell her!! She pushed up on the louver, and kept pushing it up eventually using force to get it all the way open. It bent the edge of my T panel down :sad30: ! It was an easy fix, and you can't even tell it happened (I'm not that bad working with stainless).

After fixing the dent, I bent the stainless tabs upwards - the tabs that the long plastic trim piece holds - and the panel no longer comes in contact with the louver. Maybe they get bent open enough to come in contact with all the years of vibration?


Just a thought but, Double check that the top part of the louvre isn't hitting the back of the T panel.

That's a similar issue that I have right now. While my louvre will open all the way, I have to push down the back of the T panel, then open the louvre or they bind and won't open.

George

[mluder]

I used to have an issue with binding also... The plastic finisher strip that holds the t-panel in place had gotten deformed over time - I think an overheated engine also contributed. Anyway, when my engine was warm after driving a bit, the t-panel would lift just enough to bind. If the engine was cold it was fine. I don't know if your engine was warm at the time but it's possible that the plastic finisher became deformed over time and now no longer holds the t-panel low enough to prevent binding.

Be careful if you decide to bend the tabs on the t-panel. I have heard they can break off.

Cheers
Steven

[dn010]

Be careful if you decide to bend the tabs on the t-panel. I have heard they can break off.



Thank you for mentioning this, I forgot this warning in my post as it was a big concern of mine.

FWIW, the binding happened even after I installed a new plastic strip from DMCH hoping it would cure my issue but the tabs were the only thing that did it for me. I guess it's a case by case problem, just glad I wasn't the only one with this!

[RammJaeger]

FYI I'm the louvre isn't contacting the t-panel. It's just that the struts won't extend long enough, but they literally did just a couple of days ago.

[dn010]

FYI I'm the louvre isn't contacting the t-panel. It's just that the struts won't extend long enough, but they literally did just a couple of days ago.

Compare measurements. Mine are from Grady, and while I bought them a really long time ago I just installed them within the last few months. From full end to end extended, I have approx 17 13/16.

If yours do not come close to this measurement then you know it's the struts definitely and then you can take the next steps whether it be exchange from the seller or buy new ones.

EDIT: I might add, that from pivot point to pivot point [center], I measure approx 16 15/16

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