Hood struts - battery maintenance

[Zig]

What’s the consensus regarding hood struts during winter storage / garage time? Hood open struts up? Hood closed struts down?

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[Skye]

I don't see where storage would matter. The vehicle is operated with the hood down. If the movement of the strut is a concern, lubricating or actuating the assemblies, the owner could open the hood once a month (to check for fluids and varmints) then close.

The question is akin to putting the car on jack stands, to suspend the car in storage. The car spends its life under its own weight. Fully extending the suspension and leaving it like that for long periods of time, I don't care for that myself.

YMMV.

 

[Zig]

I don't see where storage would matter. The vehicle is operated with the hood down. If the movement of the strut is a concern, lubricating or actuating the assemblies, the owner could open the hood once a month (to check for fluids and varmints) then close.

The question is akin to putting the car on jack stands, to suspend the car in storage. The car spends its life under its own weight. Fully extending the suspension and leaving it like that for long periods of time, I don't care for that myself.

YMMV.

More along the lines of how good are the struts for ?

edit: translation of slaughtered english. How long will the struts last? Should we expect a sag or degrade after a period of time? Would an assist prop be recommended or just frigging close the hood and don’t worry about it?

 

[Skye]

More along the lines of how good are the struts for ?

Many with the S550 will install hood struts as one of their first mods, and are pleased. I don't remember anyone complaining about premature failure, under any operating condition.

Regarding the question related to the battery, if someone is attaching a tender and leaving the hood up during storage, I can see that. This setup would not be my preferred option. Underhood is complicated. Component dense. Many items are somewhat delicate. General dirt and dust as well. People or pets passing by the car often. Long-term, it'd be best to wire a connection so the hood can be closed and the car covered.

Edit: an alternative option would be to remove the battery from the car and set in a safe area with stable temps and conditions.

 

[Zig]

Many with the S550 will install hood struts as one of their first mods, and are pleased. I don't remember anyone complaining about premature failure, under any operating condition.

Regarding the question related to the battery, if someone is attaching a tender and leaving the hood up during storage, I can see that. This setup would not be my preferred option. Underhood is complicated. Component dense. Many items are somewhat delicate. General dirt and dust as well. People or pets passing by the car often. Long-term, it'd be best to wire a connection so the hood can be closed and the car covered.

So you would be a ‘hood closed - struts down’ with ^ as the supporting details / explanation?

 

[Gregs24]

Daily drivers probably only open the hood twice a year. Not an issue.

 

[Skye]

So you would be a ‘hood closed - struts down’ with ^ as the supporting details / explanation?

Yes. Even with the hood closed, there is ventilation. Further, if a tender is involved, they do not draw a lot of power, so heat is not a concern.

In storage or out, tender or not, it's a good idea to check under hood and under car, once a month. Same with tires. While in storage, I manually check pressures once a month. When the car is driven, I manually check once a month minimum.

 

[REV745DH24]

What’s the consensus regarding hood struts during winter storage / garage time? Hood open struts up? Hood closed struts down?

 

[REV745DH24]

While that I had just got the Mustang late November and I don’t use the Mustang till Spring clears and meanwhile my hood is open cuz I am tinkering with the motor and looking, thinking what I should be doing with it! So that why my hood is up! I plan to stop by the Summit store and check on some good jacks for my DH so by spring, I’ll be working on some add-ons to the system! Researching on the internet and making decisions what to add on and improve the DH! What a fun that will be!!

 

[dusman59]

I have had aftermarket Redline hood struts since March 2012 with zero issues. I don't think it matters up or down.

 

[DukeCLR]

I always closed the hood of my S550 and never used a tender, I would get the typical message that my car was entering deep sleep mode after two weeks. Finally last month I would get the deep sleep message more often and the battery died a few day later. So for 5 years no issues without using a tender. I also havbe an alternative winter solution.

I have only had mt S650 for 2 weeks and I get the deep sleep message more often, it could be just because it hasn't been driven much and I have spent time screwing around with the power on but I think it uses more power when parked for some reason. I'm using as tender with the hood down but not close all the way to allow for the power cord. This way I can cover it.

 

[IFFV68]

What’s the consensus regarding hood struts during winter storage / garage time? Hood open struts up? Hood closed struts down?

Why would you want to leave the hood open during storage?
It doesn’t make any sense to me.
Would you leave the hood open all day and night if your Mustang was being stored all winter with a cover on it parked in front of your house?

 

[HWill]

Why would you want to leave the hood open during storage?
It doesn’t make any sense to me.
Would you leave the hood open all day and night if your Mustang was being stored all winter with a cover on it parked in front of your house?

I'm pretty sure they are leaving the hood up or open for the battery tender.

If I had to store a vehicle either out in the open and wanted to use a battery tender I would route the tender wires under the car so the hood can stay closed.

In a garage I would either do the same or leave the hood not completely shut. I wouldn't leave it completely open the entire time. Not sure if it will affect the hood struts if left open the entire winter.

 

[timd38]

I have 7 vehicles, so I direct wire all my vehicles to use an OPTIMA battery maintainer when I am not driving them. On my S550, Dark Horse and Corvette they are at the base of the windshield, on my other vehicles, it is in the grill area. you can see the plug in the top picture and the harness in the second.

 

[MCS]

I've got mine on the tender now and have the hood 98.153% closed. I leave it open a little so as not to pinch any wires although am thinking of rearranging my wiring so it can go out the top of the hood near the windscreen.

I've been debating on an indoor cover so that would necessitate my hood being closed or semi closed anyways; figured might aswell get used to it.

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