OEM Wing Spoiler causes trunk to slam down hard. Decapitation Risk!

DMS24

DMS24

Well-Known Member
140
72
Nevada, USA
Vehicle Model
(Lexus) ES 300h
Got my new wing installed on my EX sedan, but it seems like it the new 'heavy duty' springs don't hold the trunk up at all. It slams down hard, and wont stay up at its full open position whatsoever. I compared to an accord with the accessory wing installed, and it popped up with little effort. Defective springs perhaps? Anyone else have this issue? The service manager was next to useless, and said the best he could do was to call Honda engineering about it. I just wonder if anyone has seen this before.
 
the 8thgen decklid and wing spoilers were actually sold as a kit that came with different trunk torsion springs to offset the additional weight. If Honda doesnt make them available maybe getting the torsion springs from a 9th gen Si would fix the problem
 
Going through the dealership, since they installed it (couldn't bring myself to drill through my new car). Anyway, I hope that the dealership can come up with a fix when talking through the Honda engineering department. I suppose I could mention trying to use different model's torsion springs, but the dealerships here are bullheaded, and resist anything that requires them to do anything unpaid. I suppose it could be that the new springs were bent as well. Won't know about what Honda says about it until Monday.
 
are you sure they installed the upgraded bars? They could have easily just installed the spoiler itself and not touched the original springs.

at around 2:50 they swap the bars out -

View: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nScgQdeXMBA


I'm not saying they didn't install it, but that would be my first guess.
 
I requested to have them give me the old ones back. Had them in hand, and watched the lead tech remove the new ones, check them, and put them back in. no change. It did not act like this when I looked at the demo civic inside with the wing installed.
 
maybe they used oem ones, instead of the upgraded ones. Could be a mistake. Collegehills will probably be online on monday. I don't know if there is a physical difference you can easily see between the oem and upgraded ones or what....
 
Checked that too. The new ones are a thicker gauge metal. Think the end result will be the dealer will get a new set of springs and try that this coming week. :think:
 
sounds like to me the springs are messed up, if they are changed.. i got a deck lid wich would weigh something... and it closes normally, and like you DMS24, just decided to let the dealer install it.. also when I bought my civic, all said and done i would have hardly saved anything... altho now there are other offering pre painted alot cheaper....
 
Interesting update: I went out to the car today with install instructions in hand...I think the dealer installed the springs with the left on the right and the right on the left.
2012-12-16 13.35.33-1.jpg

Here's what the left side ACTUALLY looks like.
2012-12-16 13.35.42mini.jpg
Notice the RED marking on the LEFT side. Looks wrong to me.
The tech who "only installs accessories" (according to the service manager) needs to be retrained how to read instructions.

Here's the right side.
2012-12-16 13.35.49mini.jpg
They clearly have no idea how to install parts on their own products. Should have installed this myself like everything else I installed on the car.
This has been the worst dealership experience I've ever had, from purchase to accessory install.
Bringing to another dealer tomorrow to have them remedy this and see if that fixes the problem
 
DMS24 said:
Interesting update: I went out to the car today with install instructions in hand...I think the dealer installed the springs with the left on the right and the right on the left.
View attachment 7455

Here's what the left side ACTUALLY looks like.
View attachment 7456
Notice the RED marking on the LEFT side. Looks wrong to me.
The tech who "only installs accessories" (according to the service manager) needs to be retrained how to read instructions.

Here's the right side.
View attachment 7457
They clearly have no idea how to install parts on their own products. Should have installed this myself like everything else I installed on the car.
This has been the worst dealership experience I've ever had, from purchase to accessory install.
Bringing to another dealer tomorrow to have them remedy this and see if that fixes the problem
Click to expand...

I would go back to the dealer with the instructions, ask to talk to the service manager ( not a service writer ) and go from there, explain the entire story, and show him the instructions with the pictures you took of how they installed it on your vehicle. Ask them for resolution, and I would get them to toss in a free oil change for the inconvenience of coming back again to have it done right.
 
RESOLUTION FOUND! :dance:
Went to another Honda dealer, and they switched the springs around. It works now. (what a concept)
This should be made into a sticky for looking into trunks not staying open or closing hard. :wave:

2012-12-17 17.19.18mini.jpg

Will go back to the dealer that sold me the wing and see if I can get free goodies from them (hoping for free tint). Glad their error didn't cause any harm to me or the car. I know I will be asking for them to be getting me some new springs that weren't installed backwards out of fear that the error bent them up.
 
Bulkybear said:
So the springs were backwards? As in forcing the lid down instead of up? Ouch
Click to expand...
100% correct. The trunk pushed down with the same force that now propels it upward. Almost took my hand off the first time I tried to pry it open.
 
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