Hood seems like it has a indent at the front

[jroach]

I was looking at the 997 the other day and noticed what I thought was an indentation at the front of the hood. I can only see it at certain angles.

It's about 3" wide and runs across the entire leading edge of the hood. I have had Porsches before and know how to close the trunk. I did a search

but could find anybody else. Under warranty so I'm not that concerned but curious if others see the same.

[dphatch]

I was looking at the 997 the other day and noticed what I thought was an indentation at the front of the hood. I can only see it at certain angles.

It's about 3" wide and runs across the entire leading edge of the hood. I have had Porsches before and know how to close the trunk. I did a search

but could find anybody else. Under warranty so I'm not that concerned but curious if others see the same.

All the 997's are the same way I believe to insure that you don't get a whistling sound from the space between the hood and the front bumper.

[phillipj]

I have a 997 and have no indentation on my trunk (nor was there one on my previous 996's.) I detail the crap out of my car constantly so I know every imperfection.

Where exactly do you see this on your trunk? Can you post a picture?

Has this been there and I haven't noticed it? Highly unlikely......

Edited November 2, 2009 by phillipj

[jroach]

I have a 997 and have no indentation on my trunk (nor was there one on my previous 996's.) I detail the crap out of my car constantly so I know every imperfection.

Where exactly do you see this on your trunk? Can you post a picture?

Has this been there and I haven't noticed it? Highly unlikely......

I can't get a good pic using my camera phone. I will need to wait until my digital camera comes back (a few weeks).

The indentation is at the front edge of the front hood:

It starts about one inch behind the leading edge for about 3 to 4 inches back and across the entire hood with the same margin on the sides. It is very slight and symmetrical.

I can almost buy the anti whistling item but like you I don't remember it on my previous porsche (1998).

[phillipj]

Hmmm... Sounds odd. Let's see if anyone else comments on this.....

[phillipj]

I scrutinized my hood yesterday and I definetly don't have the indentation that you speak of. Hopefully you can post a picture soon so thta we could see it.

[355bhp]

Hmm. Maybe it's only on the later model 997's. My '05 doesn't have it, and it's a nice dark color. 'Course the thing makes so much noise, there's no way I'd hear any whistling from the front lid! And I LOVE the noise.

[shocky]

Nothing on my 08. Don't forget that the hood is AL and it don't take much!

John

[dphatch]

Put a flat edged tool of some kind on the front of the hood placed front to back. (I used a carpenters level on mine, with blue painters type on the side that would touch the car to prevent scratches, and placed it next to the front hood emblem.) For the first 4" or so the flat edge will sit nearly dead flat on the hood. Any further back than that and it will not. If the flat edge you're using is longer than 6" the last two inches of it will not touch the hood. It will not sit flat across the hood only front to back and only for the first few inchs from the front edge. What you are seeing is the transition between the flat front section of the hood and the compound curves of the rest of the hood. It is definitely visible, in the right light and at the right angle, on my '07 997 C4S.

[jroach]

I had thought the same thing about the straight edge and tried it when I first noticed the indent. My hoods curve starts from the leading edge and continues back for some way Feet not inches). My indentation is not exaggerated enough that it goes the opposite direction of the curve but maybe more like the curve changing slightly. I'm not certain about the transition theory since it doesn't explain the two inches on either side.

The upper line of the indentation runs through the upper part of the hood crest.

My car is silver with about 20k mi.

I hope to have the camera back on Thurs so I'll post pics then.

I have scanned through dozens of 997 pics for sale and can't find the indentation but it is so slight that I'm wondering if it has to do with the color/metalic and how it was painted (ie:more of an optical illusion).

[dphatch]

I had thought the same thing about the straight edge and tried it when I first noticed the indent. My hoods curve starts from the leading edge and continues back for some way Feet not inches). My indentation is not exaggerated enough that it goes the opposite direction of the curve but maybe more like the curve changing slightly. I'm not certain about the transition theory since it doesn't explain the two inches on either side.

The upper line of the indentation runs through the upper part of the hood crest.

My car is silver with about 20k mi.

I hope to have the camera back on Thurs so I'll post pics then.

I have scanned through dozens of 997 pics for sale and can't find the indentation but it is so slight that I'm wondering if it has to do with the color/metalic and how it was painted (ie:more of an optical illusion).

OK. Now you've got me wondering. When I put the flat edge on the hood I placed it next to the hood badge. It's possible that area has flattened out as a result of closing the hood as that's where I place the palm of my hand to close it. Will have to check other spots across the width to see if it's just this one spot. But the transition line I am seeing definitly goes across the width of the hood. Originally thought it may have been an issue with the metalic paint application but the flat edge disproved that as being the sole cause of the visual effect. Atleast I thought it did. The good news I'm not hearing any whistling. :huh:

[jroach]

I have always closed my hoods using the very edge where the metal is rolled over (1st 1/2 inch). If your indentation is like mine then I don't think it is caused by using your palms. It is too even and too wide. If it is then Porsche has a design problem (smile).

[jroach]

It took me awhile to find the right position and lighting to see the indentation. I had practically given up until I went outside this morning and saw it more clearly with the Sun towards the back shining forward across the hood (its that slight of an indentation. Tell me what you think?

Edited November 15, 2009 by jroach

[PAULSPEED]

It's as plain as day. Looks like someone pushed the hood

down on both sides so it looks the same.

Paul

[jroach]

The picture doesn't show how even the indent is across the entire hood but the last inch or so on either side. Interesting thing is now that I know what to look for I'm seeing quite a few. I'm going to stop by the dealer and look at new cars to see if they have the same issue.

I looked on the inside of the hood and noticed a piece of rough almost fabric like but maybe metal material that follows the same outline. You have to get your head far enough back so you can look back towards the front. Looking through the holes you can see this material/fabric I mention. The fabric seems to be the same outline as the indentation. Possible reasons for the indent:

Designed this way to reduce the whistle noise (as mentioned by dphatch in this post)

Caused from pushing the hood closed

Optical illusion caused in the paint

Something to do with this fabric stuck to the inside of the hood (ie: in applying the fabric it causes the hood to change its shape.

It was like that from the beginning and maybe a defective part

Any other possibilities?

Edited November 15, 2009 by jroach

[phillipj]

I just detailed my car today and looked at me\y hood from all angles (in sunlight and shade.) Mine is an 06 and I don't have the indentation in your photo. I would have the dealer take a look at it.

[jroach]

I just detailed my car today and looked at me\y hood from all angles (in sunlight and shade.) Mine is an 06 and I don't have the indentation in your photo. I would have the dealer take a look at it.

phillipj, could I bother you to take a look at the underside of the hood and describe if you have any material bonded to the hood in this area (under the support structure, bonded to the skin of the hood itself).

Yes, I'll be taking it to the dealer when the next oil change is due but I'm not certain I would have them do anything. Repaint or bodywork doesn't sound like a path I want to go down. It's more of a curiosity factor.

[phillipj]

I'll take a look tonight and post my findings tomorrow. I don't believe there is any material there but I'll double check.

:cheers:

[PAULSPEED]

I would take it to Dent Pro. They have one in San Jose. There

must be one down where you live. They have tools that maybe

they can lift it out. They use suction cups and heat guns.

They would give you an estimate. They will also show you

dents that you never noticed.

Paul

[jroach]

I would take it to Dent Pro. They have one in San Jose. There

must be one down where you live. They have tools that maybe

they can lift it out. They use suction cups and heat guns.

They would give you an estimate. They will also show you

dents that you never noticed.

Paul

Actually at almost every angle you can't see it. I don't think I'll have it fixed. More interested in finding out why or what.

Also, I have had good results with Dent Pro as well.

[355bhp]

I guess I've been fortunate; I learned only recently how one's supposed to push the lid closed. I used to just press on the Porsche emblem. Now I use only my fingertips in the position recommended by the manual.

[jroach]

I never felt comfortable with closing it per the directions so I have always used the front edge (finger and thumb) against the leading edge where the metal is rolled over with just enough pressure until you hear the click. The porsche before this one seemed more difficult to close (1998) and I became more aware of it at that time. Maybe that is why I have the indent (smile). Either way if the average Porsche owner is anything like me then the front luggage area isn't used that often...I'm guessing I might have used the area 3 to 4 times. I open and close it more for detailing the car, maybe once every quarter or so. I'm going to the dealer today to ask what they think. My guess is they will say it is an owner problem.

[dphatch]

It took me awhile to find the right position and lighting to see the indentation. I had practically given up until I went outside this morning and saw it more clearly with the Sun towards the back shining forward across the hood (its that slight of an indentation. Tell me what you think?

Mine looks the same. Great picture by the way. I didn't think you'd be able to actually get a picture of it given how difficult the effect is to see with the naked eye.

One more thought. My hood has clear bra on it. Given the pressure necessary to remove all the air bubbles from the material during application is it possible, going on the premise that the AL hood is somewhat fragile, that during this process the metal was flattened out ? This is really a stretch though as the application of pressure would be applied to the entire section having the clear bra applied as well as the sections adjacent to it where the flat edged plastic tool runs off the material onto the hood during the install process. Those sections of the hood show no signs of any flattening at all and given the clear demarcation area where it starts and stops the metal would have to significantly weaker in this area than anywhere else on the hood. Only thing that makes sense is that is was a deliberate factory design. Why ? Can't say outside of the whistling hood theory.

[jroach]

It took me awhile to find the right position and lighting to see the indentation. I had practically given up until I went outside this morning and saw it more clearly with the Sun towards the back shining forward across the hood (its that slight of an indentation. Tell me what you think?

Mine looks the same. Great picture by the way. I didn't think you'd be able to actually get a picture of it given how difficult the effect is to see with the naked eye.

One more thought. My hood has clear bra on it. Given the pressure necessary to remove all the air bubbles from the material during application is it possible, going on the premise that the AL hood is somewhat fragile, that during this process the metal was flattened out ? This is really a stretch though as the application of pressure would be applied to the entire section having the clear bra applied as well as the sections adjacent to it where the flat edged plastic tool runs off the material onto the hood during the install process. Those sections of the hood show no signs of any flattening at all and given the clear demarcation area where it starts and stops the metal would have to significantly weaker in this area than anywhere else on the hood. Only thing that makes sense is that is was a deliberate factory design. Why ? Can't say outside of the whistling hood theory.

I don't have the clear bra but your explanation (pressure to remove air bubbles out) makes sense. Can I bother you to look under the hood at the front under the supporting structure to see if you have any material bonded/laminated to the skin? I haven't had the time to swing by my local dealer in Pasadena but will try and get by next week.

[dphatch]

It took me awhile to find the right position and lighting to see the indentation. I had practically given up until I went outside this morning and saw it more clearly with the Sun towards the back shining forward across the hood (its that slight of an indentation. Tell me what you think?

Mine looks the same. Great picture by the way. I didn't think you'd be able to actually get a picture of it given how difficult the effect is to see with the naked eye.

One more thought. My hood has clear bra on it. Given the pressure necessary to remove all the air bubbles from the material during application is it possible, going on the premise that the AL hood is somewhat fragile, that during this process the metal was flattened out ? This is really a stretch though as the application of pressure would be applied to the entire section having the clear bra applied as well as the sections adjacent to it where the flat edged plastic tool runs off the material onto the hood during the install process. Those sections of the hood show no signs of any flattening at all and given the clear demarcation area where it starts and stops the metal would have to significantly weaker in this area than anywhere else on the hood. Only thing that makes sense is that is was a deliberate factory design. Why ? Can't say outside of the whistling hood theory.

I don't have the clear bra but your explanation (pressure to remove air bubbles out) makes sense. Can I bother you to look under the hood at the front under the supporting structure to see if you have any material bonded/laminated to the skin? I haven't had the time to swing by my local dealer in Pasadena but will try and get by next week.

Just checked and the bonded material, looks something like fiberglass about 1/8" thick, is where you described it would be. Given the fact that it starts at the same spot on the hood that the "indentation" appears and runs forward it was definitely out there for a purpose. Adds support to the idea that the indentation, or maybe better described as a transition from the compound curves of the hood to a flat section, was an intentional factory design. My guess the purpose is to minimize or eliminate the possibility of denting or compressing the hood when closing it. However, it could just as easily been designed with a curve in to maintain the flow of the rest of the hood so there is still one question unanswered. Why has the hood been flattened in this area ?