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I believe they did benchmark other systems. They went the direction of McClaren and Tesla instead of Porsche. And I believe that their systems are probably cheaper than Porsche's.
I don't think you can say at this point they went the direction of McLaren and Tesla other than they left off a mechanical secondary. We don't know exactly what they did, and why it fails.
I also don't think you can say it is more cost-effective. I don't see how it could be. A mechanical secondary can't cost more than few bucks, and simple door locking system (for the emergency release handle) at 5mph have been implemented on vehicles for decades.
I think it was an oversight, and they wouldn't have created this problem for themselves with a much simpler system. That was already designed, developed, and tested in-service for decades by others for them. There's absolutely no question the Porsche design would have easily worked on C8.
Last edited by Foosh; Aug 9, 2020 at 05:53 PM.
Reason: Quote added due to intervening post
I don't think you can say at this point they went the direction of McLaren and Tesla other than they left off a mechanical secondary. We don't know exactly what they did, and why it fails.
I also don't think you can say it is more cost-effective. I don't see how it could be. A mechanical secondary can't cost more than few bucks.
I mean at the top level they went the way that a single button push fully releases the hood.
Someone had commented on another forum that there are two separate solenoids that release the hood on the McClaren. And you can't put it in drive with the hood open.
I don't know how Tesla accomplishes it.
The reason I think the C8 system costs less than Porsche's is because it consists of a single 2 position latch and a button vs the Porsche system with an additional cable to mount. But I agree, it probably only saves a few bucks.
If it were up to me, I'd pay a few more bucks for a separate secondary latch. But GM made thousands of these Cost-Benefit decisions on the C8. That is how they can make this car for $60K. They could easily rack up the cost of the C8 by thousands of dollars if they were to take the conservative route. Every once in a while they get bit and this appears to be one of the times.
My guess is some group in GM benchmarked the Tesla (or similar) system, said it had a good safety record and they could save a few bucks. But they failed the implementation.
Whatever! His idea is a good one and with a modification of using a bracket (easily fabricated) with a Carabiner then removing one OEM hasp bolt to install is very easy.
It "May Be" an electrical issue BUT until GM defines the cause (other than user error) IMO pulling the fuse would not give me security! Especially after I get past 500 miles and hit redline! I prefer a mechanical security tether! For the ride home from the dealer, using those bottom net attachments and a bracket with Carabiner will be good enough!
Will that bracket and carabiner fit between the hood and the trim / seal around the frunk itself, without damaging the rubber seal?
Kuryakyn 4179 from Amazon plus common AR15 sling. 1 minute install. Stays out of the way of the mechanism. You can easily adjust the length of the sling.
Read the regulation, a simple mechanical latch does not meet the letter of the regulation.
Read the post you replied to. He said mechanical secondary latch. That would very definitely meet the regulation. Almost every front engine car has a mechanical secondary latch. So do Boxsters and Caymans.
I'm no engineer or a rules and regulations guru but you CAN'T have a safety latch because of the whole "in case you're kidnapped and stuffed in the cargo (front or back) thing, so no more "a safety latch would solve the problem" because it's not allowed. You need a one touch/pull system to open the lid, that's the whole point of the emergency escape thing.
Yep, you're not a regulations guru. The emergency release is designed to only release the frunk fully if the car is going 3 mph or less. Above that speed, it only opens to the first latch so a child can't fall out when the car's going 60 mph.
This is a very diversified and knowledgeable group of individuals that have come up with all kinds of safety tethers. C8 Jake’s looks like it worked like it was supposed to and the cargo net holders stayed in place. .
Or maybe running the cord through the loop is what caused the hood to not latch securely?
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Why can't you have an electronic release that is only activated by the handle inside the fronk, at a speed not to exceed 3 mph? In other words, that emergency handle is not connected to the interior release system. And the interior release will only go 1 step of the 2, when it is pulled/activated. A person then has to step out, go to the front and push in on the spring-"claw" portion holding the hood to the hoop or whatever it's called.
The latch is a two stage mechanical setup and is quite robust, if you just kill the power to the electric motor that unlatches it (fuse #18) then it won't open inadvertently. I went this route instead of all the Rube Goldberg solutions.
Are we assuming that the Frunk inadvertent openings are all due to an electrical fault, and pulling the fuse will stop the problem? Has anyone thought about adding a switch that opens the circuit to the Frunk latch instead of pulling the fuse? Couple of switch options: always OPEN/press to CLOSE when you want to open the frunk, simple ON/OFF toggle. Just a thought. My VIN is above 3700 & I have not received an Update message. I have had the car 5 weeks & have driven it around 3000 miles. Been super careful to always check that the frunk is closed before I get into the car, but you never know.........
Are we assuming that the Frunk inadvertent openings are all due to an electrical fault, and pulling the fuse will stop the problem? Has anyone thought about adding a switch that opens the circuit to the Frunk latch instead of pulling the fuse?
There is no circuit to the frunk latch, it goes to an electric motor that pulls on a cable that releases the two stage mechanical latch. Every video that also has audio included, you can hear the unlatching (both stages) that can only be done by pulling on the cable. Two ways to pull on the cable, either the manual loop under the dash near the steering shaft or the electric motor that works when one of four different switches are used. (or some rogue signal that makes the hood fly open)
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Originally Posted by jimmypop13
I don't understand how people think it's user error when of everyone that it's happened to, no one had a warning on their display.
The difficulty for me is that I personally know someone that forgot to close the hood, drove off and the hood came flying up very soon after. He told me the visible warning was on, but that he just failed to see it until after the hood came up. If someone isn't paying attention and also has the radio on and can't hear the chimes, if the hood flies up, the first thing a person would typically do would be to pull over and shut the hood. It's not a moment most would think to check to see if the visual warning was on or not. I'm not saying there isn't an issue that needs to be addressed, I'm just saying there are variables that everyone should understand that keep these incidents from being a quick open and closed case. I just hope it all gets sorted out correctly.
I just pulled fuse 18... done until GM comes up with a recall. Not sure why you guys are doing all these tether systems. GM could just say your tether is preventing the frunk from closing.
The fact of the matter is, we are all human and we all make mistakes. Even if the trunk wasn't properly closed, the dash is lit up, the chimes are sounding and the stereo is blarring, this is reason enough to address those issues. GM engineering should have factored human error into the equation. A simple mechanical, secondary release added to the equation would have eliminated the possiblity of the hood accidentally flying open regardless of any excuse.
