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Frunk Dent (Frustrating...)

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I read the forums. My wife and I watched the official Tesla video. We listened carefully to the delivery specialist as he showed us. Less than two months in and we have a dent where the frunk latches. So annoying. My wife said it best: "I understand being careful but it seems crazy that we watch a video, get taught in person, and STILL risk denting the hood." I agree. No clue how it happened.

Tried to snap a pic. Tough to see in garage lighting but I circled the dent in red. It runs parallel with the edge of the frunk. I took some highly detailed pics two weeks ago and it wasn't there so it happened in the last two weeks. Grrrr....

FrunkDent.jpg
 
For that reason I actually avoid using the front trunk. I think it should open and close like the trunk with the tech package. Motorized opening and closing.

The aluminium body of the Model S is really soft. So easy to deform.
 
I had the same problem within weeks of owning the car even after what I thought was being careful after watching the same video. When I had my car in for something else at the SC, I mentioned it to them and they brought someone in to fix it for a fee. I was hoping they'd offer to do it for free as I didn't think this should happen so easily, but I didn't push the issue because it must have been my fault even though I really don't know how I managed to do it as I'm always careful. It wasn't too much - something like $100. Since then, when I close the frunk I apply pressure with both hands about 6 inches to either side of the center. It feels much less like I'm going to bend something this way and haven't had an issue since.
 
There are a lot of threads and complaints about this. It was worse before they reinforced that area, but it still occurs relatively frequently based on posts here. I try to completely avoid using the frunk unless it's an absolute necessity since there doesn't appear to be any way to guarantee you can close it without damaging the sheetmetal. That and you get the hood all finger-printy or rub dirt into the paint, depending on how clean the car is.

The frunk is cool, but getting in and out of it is not the greatest design. I wouldn't be surprised if it's on the shortlist of things that get changed when they do a serious revision.

For reference, the most significant of the past threads: Frunk, slight dent - Page 5
 
I just spoke to a service center technician about closing the frunk. Mine seemed difficult to close without applying a ton of pressure. He said the way to close it is to first let the frunk cover come down and latch in place and then place you hands at the widest part/edges of the frunk and push down. Or else he says you'll probably get a dent over time in the middle if you keep pressing from the middle. He showed it to me and it seems to work well.
 
Interesting...When the SC trained me, they instructed me to use both palms and apply pressure directly on top of the latch area. This makes sense for two reasons--first, that's where the pressure is needed to engage the second lock, and second, that location has an additional metal plate on the underside of the hood for the latch, and is stronger than other areas such as the edges. To date, I have not had any problems with dents, or closing the frunk.

You would think this would be coordinated across all SC's. I wonder if they've changed their suggested technique over time.
 
Interesting...When the SC trained me, they instructed me to use both palms and apply pressure directly on top of the latch area. This makes sense for two reasons--first, that's where the pressure is needed to engage the second lock, and second, that location has an additional metal plate on the underside of the hood for the latch, and is stronger than other areas such as the edges. To date, I have not had any problems with dents, or closing the frunk.

That's how I was instructed as well. To be honest, I usually press down with my finger tips at that location. As a child, I injured my left hand requiring surgery and it is still uncomfortable bending my hand back like that. Over a year later and no dents on my hood.
 
For that reason I actually avoid using the front trunk. I think it should open and close like the trunk with the tech package. Motorized opening and closing.

The aluminium body of the Model S is really soft. So easy to deform.

Amen on the auto opening and closing option for the frunk!

- - - Updated - - -

That's how I was instructed as well. To be honest, I usually press down with my finger tips at that location. As a child, I injured my left hand requiring surgery and it is still uncomfortable bending my hand back like that. Over a year later and no dents on my hood.

When I got my car in Dec 2012, the Delivery Specialist said to push down on the front left and right corners of the frunk, where the metal was the thickest (according to him) and less chance to deform the frunk. I have since been advised to press on the frunk on either side of the latch. Still, I vote for auto opening and closing retrofit function (similar to rear hatch) - I would pay for that upgrade.
 
is there an inside pull handle at all? we've had a couple cars, including our current Lexus hybrid that don't have motorized trunks, but at least there is a recessed pull handle from the inside. you grab is and pull hard and the thing shuts - no fingerprints on the trunk lid.

we don't have our MS yet so i haven't tried closing a frunk in real life, but i would imagine if there is light to medium resistance, a pull handle would be a cheap and easy way to avoid smashing or denting the metal when closing. if there is too much resistance in the springs though, this won't work
 
is there an inside pull handle at all? we've had a couple cars, including our current Lexus hybrid that don't have motorized trunks, but at least there is a recessed pull handle from the inside. you grab is and pull hard and the thing shuts - no fingerprints on the trunk lid.

we don't have our MS yet so i haven't tried closing a frunk in real life, but i would imagine if there is light to medium resistance, a pull handle would be a cheap and easy way to avoid smashing or denting the metal when closing. if there is too much resistance in the springs though, this won't work

It takes a lot of force to close the frunk. You actually have to push down on it. My last car, which had a non-motorized hatch, there was a recessed pull handle (only exposed when the hatch was open), like what I think you are talking about. I could use that handle to start the hatch closing, and momentum would do the rest. But as you will see when you get your MS, this just won't work for the frunk.
 
It takes a lot of force to close the frunk. You actually have to push down on it. My last car, which had a non-motorized hatch, there was a recessed pull handle (only exposed when the hatch was open), like what I think you are talking about. I could use that handle to start the hatch closing, and momentum would do the rest. But as you will see when you get your MS, this just won't work for the frunk.

that's a shame. needless to say i will not be using the frunk unless it's absolutely necessary !
 
Like others, I never use the frunk. Even when I do the 'look no engine' demo, there's still that awkward moment where I, and only I, have to close it very carefully. It seems an obvious area for improvement, if not have the entire thing motorized, at least have an actuator on the latch, so that when the frunk is lowered it grabs it and pulls it shut.
 
Frunk Dent. Frustrating...

I use the frunk all the time. I was taught to drop it about 6" from closure. Then with flat hands push down the rest of the way at the extreme right/left front corners. No issues or dents after 14 months this way. Those corners are where the thicker seams are.

As for automatic closing like the trunk in the tech package, i recall somewhere in this forum that tesla was quoted as saying there were government regulatory reasons why they couldn't do this, althogh they wanted to. Can't seem to find where that was posted at this time. If true, i don't know why it can't be done outside the US?
 
Thanks for the responses everyone. I have emails out to two dent repair companies. We'll see what we can do...

- Not using the frunk is not an option for me. This car is a workhorse for my family of 5 with three kids ages 9 and under. Just this weekend I had two kids in the jump seats, two in the rear seats, and various softball/volleyball items in the frunk.
- There seems to be an incredible amount of inconsistency around the best method. The online video from Tesla shows pressure just to the left/right of the center. Our delivery specialist did double hands over the dead center. People here saying far left/right edges. I'm thinking the far edges is best and my wife likely resorted to what she was shown at delivery...two hands over the center causing the dent. Shhh...don't tell her I'm blaming her...although I can't really blame her since she was just dutifully following what she was shown at Tesla during delivery.
- It certainly doesn't seem to be random. Those of us who get it, get it in the exact same spots! And it is the same "crease"-like dent for all of us. Crazy.