I hate closing the frunk

[insaneoctane]

Maybe I am just doing it wrong but I really hate closing the frunk. I really wish I could drop it from a known height, but I know that is a no-no. I can't tell you how many times I have placed my hands on the sides of the T logo and pressed firmly only to have it spring back and not latch. I worry about my ring scratching the hood and it ALWAYS leaves hand prints. This is undoubtedly not an example of Tesla's engineering brilliance at work.

 

[eprosenx]

Maybe I am just doing it wrong but I really hate closing the frunk. I really wish I could drop it from a known height, but I know that is a no-no. I can't tell you how many times I have placed my hands on the sides of the T logo and pressed firmly only to have it spring back and not latch. I worry about my ring scratching the hood and it ALWAYS leaves hand prints. This is undoubtedly not an example of Tesla's engineering brilliance at work.

Totally agree. It won't latch by just dropping it, and often even when pressing down carefully it takes two tries.

When the first thing they teach you when you pick up the car is "how to close the frunk without damaging anything", clearly they screwed up on the design. I should not have to be fearful of friends/family accidentally shutting a door on my car wrong and damaging it. I find that flat out unacceptable.

(now don't get me wrong - I love the car! Just not all aspects of it)

 

[mmccking]

Same. I don't even bother to open it when showing off the car. I only open it if I absolutely have to.

 

[halfricanguy]

Maybe I am just doing it wrong but I really hate closing the frunk. I really wish I could drop it from a known height, but I know that is a no-no. I can't tell you how many times I have placed my hands on the sides of the T logo and pressed firmly only to have it spring back and not latch. I worry about my ring scratching the hood and it ALWAYS leaves hand prints. This is undoubtedly not an example of Tesla's engineering brilliance at work.

Just a heads up, you aren’t supposed to close it with your hands immediately to the side of the T logo, but just above it, to the side. Maybe that’ll make it easier if you haven’t been doing it that way. But yes it sucks regardless. I always fear that I’m bending the hood.

 

[Recumpence]

If you look at the under side of the frunk lid (the hood), it appears best to use one hand flat over the latch. That is what I do. I lay one hand flat over the latch (basically over the Tesla logo) and latch it. I don't mind opening it. I use it daily.

What bothers me is unlatching it. For one thing, if you are outside of the car you have to open the app. Then, after the app is open, and you pop the frunk, you have to go into it relatively quickly. If you don't, it will relatch itself. It does not competely close itself. But, the secondary latch (it is a double latch system) relatches and you cannot open it, necessitating repopping it again.

Matt

 

[T34ME]

What bothers me is unlatching it. For one thing, if you are outside of the car you have to open the app. Then, after the app is open, and you pop the frunk, you have to go into it relatively quickly. If you don't, it will relatch itself. It does not competely close itself. But, the secondary latch (it is a double latch system) relatches and you cannot open it, necessitating repopping it again.

What I would like to see is auto soft-close. Just put the lid down gently and then it would suck itself down and latch, as in the procedure described above, only suck itself all the way closed. If Tesla can't fix this OTA, I'm sure aftermarket can do something similar. Aftermarket did provide auto-close for the MS trunk lid and I think they will do the same for Model 3 frunk and trunk lids. Give them time.for R&D.

 

[Xminusuno]

As far as finger prints go, I close it with a single closed fist over the logo. A Tesla tech told me that is how he does it and no finger prints. It's worked fine for me over the last few months. Though I would also prefer a soft close...

 

[sperkin]

Same here. I only opened it twice and now I just tell myself the hood and fenders are one piece and doesn't open.

 

[Msjulie]

It's not perfect of course but this was interesting - just for open really ATM

 

[ecarfan]

What I would like to see is auto soft-close. Just put the lid down gently and then it would suck itself down and latch, as in the procedure described above, only suck itself all the way closed. If Tesla can't fix this OTA, I'm sure aftermarket can do something similar. Aftermarket did provide auto-close for the MS trunk lid and I think they will do the same for Model 3 frunk and trunk lids. Give them time.for R&D.

I am unclear on what you are describing. Tesla has never offered a powered frunk closing mechanism, nor is there an “aftermarket auto-close” for the S or X that I am aware of.

I find the S and X frunks very convenient and use mine frequently. Closing is no big deal. I have tried closing the 3 frunk on showroom cars and it seems similar, very simple to do. Yes, it is true that you should not drop it to close like on ICE cars. There is a specific technique required to closing Tesla frunks. I do not find it onerous.

 

[RAVAGESofTIME]

Just press slowly and gently down, until it latches. You don't need to do Heimlich type thrust to close it.

 

[T34ME]

I am unclear on what you are describing. Tesla has never offered a powered frunk closing mechanism, nor is there an “aftermarket auto-close” for the S or X that I am aware of.

Here you go.

 

[pkodali]

Here you go.

That's the trunk not the frunk

 

[insaneoctane]

What I would like to see is auto soft-close. Just put the lid down gently and then it would suck itself down and latch, as in the procedure described above, only suck itself all the way closed. If Tesla can't fix this OTA, I'm sure aftermarket can do something similar. Aftermarket did provide auto-close for the MS trunk lid and I think they will do the same for Model 3 frunk and trunk lids. Give them time.for R&D.

I can 99% assure you there is no mechanism/hardware in the frunk latch that can soft close it via OTA. 3rd party solutions welcome! Give us a trunk auto close retrofit too!

 

[insaneoctane]

Just a heads up, you aren’t supposed to close it with your hands immediately to the side of the T logo, but just above it, to the side. Maybe that’ll make it easier if you haven’t been doing it that way. But yes it sucks regardless. I always fear that I’m bending the hood.

I was being lazy typing....yes my hands are slightly above the logo

 

[Mark Z]

I remember learning how to carefully close the frunk back in November 2012. Hands needed to be placed and positioned just right. Little has changed from those early days, so enjoy learning the right technique from the Tesla specialists when you take delivery and enjoy your Tesla vehicle!

 

[israndy]

Has anyone figured out why they say to close the Frunk with two hands? I was blown away at the distribution center to learn this. I often have taken something out of the frunk so I only have one hand to close it. I understand that it has to be pressed closed as you are sealing the frunk against weather, while a normal hood you only need to close it enough to latch. I have taken to closing it with my fingers AROUND the logo so I am pressing on both sides of the logo still but with one hand. Helps to be a big guy.

I wonder if the reason they say to use two hands is so you don't put pressure on the logo. Perhaps they found that people were squeezing the adhesive out from under, or cracking the logo piece?

-Randy

 

[kengchang]

 

[JPUConn]

I close mine with a microfiber towel in hand and store the towels and detail spray in the trunk

 

[animorph]

This is normal aluminum hood closing procedure. I used to have to do the same for my 2001 Porsche. The aluminum is softer than a steel hood, easier to bend or dent if you push hard on it in a bad (unsupported) place.

You use two palms to close the hood because that reduces the pressure on any one place on the hood, and is less likely to bend the hood where you are placing your hands.

You place your palms where the car manufacturer tells you, or find your own preferred position, so that you are applying pressure to a portion of the frunk that is reinforced underneath, not just flat aluminum. Again, less chance of bending it and creating a dimple on your hood.

There are car regulations that demand certain special behaviors from the front hood when opening, such as the two-step latch mechanism. This is to ensure that the hood doesn't fly open while you are driving at 70 MPH, even if you forgot you popped the hood. Or worse, pop the hood while driving. But that also makes it difficult to make a hood auto-open/auto-close. It's not just a case where Tesla decided to cheap out and not automate the hood. Though some people here seem to have seen other makers do something better I think. I haven't had a car that does it any differently.