I have a dealer installed ford bug shiled on my 04 F-150. when the truck reaches highway speeds the hood literally jumps up and down. When I took the shield off the hood stopped jumping. Does anyone with a bug shield have this problem as well?

 

Not trying to sound like a jerk, but try the search tool, there have been many threads about this issue.:santa:

 

I have a Ford shield, (installed myself ) no problems at all .maybe it was a crappy install on the dealers part. Did you put it back on? If not try doing it yourself and see what happens..

 

i installed mine and i have also noticed the hood "bouncing" at around 70 mph...my hood seems to lift at the back near the windshield...i checked where the hood is connected to the hinges and all is tight...

 

Mine does it in a really strong head wind running at 70 + mph.

 

Bug shields generate a momentary vacuum near the cowl area on most trucks. That is why you see it move up and down. Try another brand if it annoys you. Just don't expect much as long as you run one.

 

Mine flutters around if I'm doing about 80 or so. As long as the hood doesn't fly off the truck, I don't think I'm gonna worry about it.

 

TSB
04-18-8 HOOD FLUTTER AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS

Publication Date: September 1, 2004

FORD: 2004 F-150


ISSUE:
Some 2004 F-150 vehicles may exhibit hood movement at the back of the hood due to high air turbulence, while driving at highway speeds. This condition may be amplified by the installation of an accessory bug shield and may be more pronounced when passing an on-coming vehicle on a two lane road.

ACTION:
Refer to the following Service Procedure.

SERVICE PROCEDURE

Confirm that the hood is flush with the front fenders at each front corner. If the hood is under-flush, adjust the hood stops to raise the hood flush with the tops of the front fenders.
Check the amount of drag at the rear hood to cowl seal with a piece of paper. Place a piece of paper between the seal and hood, close the hood and then slowly pull the paper out.
If there is sufficient drag, indicating good seal to hood contact, return the vehicle to the customer.
If there is little to no drag, obtain locally a piece of fuel hose 147 cm long & 11 mm diameter (58" long & 3/16" diameter). Lube the hose with a soap-based solution and install the hose inside the hood seal bulb.

 

Installed Ford brand shield about 11 months ago and haven't had the problem.

Just depends on how the factory set the hoods when they were installed.

 

I never noticed mine before I put the low profile critter shield on, but mine doesn't start fluttering until around 80+ mph. I don't drive that fast that often, so I don't think I'm gonna worry about it. Doesn't even make any noise when it does it, either that or I'm going deaf.

 

Quintin,
That is one of the best / most useful posts I have seen. Thanks for the update / info.

cards89,

I have a Ford low-profile bug shield and haven't had any problems. You might try loosening the grill, resetting the bug shield and tightening her up. That and the procedure in the TSB should square it away!

 

Seeing as how I usually don't have much to do during the evenings at work, I might experiment with this TSB on my own truck, just to see how it works.

Y'all stay tuned.

 

Thanks a bunch to Quintin! (I figured I better post here also). My hood fluttered also at about 80mph. The dealer did nothing other than say it was from the bugshield(AVS brand, which looks suspiciously like Fords).
After following Quintin's TSB procedure, I was on the highway today @ 85mph and had no flutter. Fix was fast, cheap, and simple.You da man Quintin.

 

Outstanding! Now if I ever get around to doing it to my own truck...