Front-end rattle / hood adjustment?

[moof2k]

Just got a new 2024 2500 Rebel w/ Hemi 6.4L this week! Love this truck so far, but maybe I "broke it in" a little too much the first week?

After about 10 hours of driving on bumpy gravel roads it started to develop a pretty good rattle coming from the front-end. It sounds like something plastic is getting bounced around near the front-right of the engine compartment.

I suspect what's happening is either the hood is loose and its tapping the top of the radiator upper seal (the wide plastic part sitting on top of the radiator) or there's just too much play in the radiator upper seal. If I tap on the top of the radiator upper seal with my hand it flexes and hits something metal below it and makes a similar sound. There also appears to be an unusual amount of wear on the hook and closure bracket for the hood for a week-old vehicle, which indicates its probably not fitting securely.

Any advice on how to better diagnose and troubleshoot this one, or should I just take this back to the dealer?

 

[KKBB]

Just got a new 2024 2500 Rebel w/ Hemi 6.4L this week! Love this truck so far, but maybe I "broke it in" a little too much the first week?

After about 10 hours of driving on bumpy gravel roads it started to develop a pretty good rattle coming from the front-end. It sounds like something plastic is getting bounced around near the front-right of the engine compartment.

I suspect what's happening is either the hood is loose and its tapping the top of the radiator upper seal (the wide plastic part sitting on top of the radiator) or there's just too much play in the radiator upper seal. If I tap on the top of the radiator upper seal with my hand it flexes and hits something metal below it and makes a similar sound. There also appears to be an unusual amount of wear on the hook and closure bracket for the hood for a week-old vehicle, which indicates its probably not fitting securely.

Any advice on how to better diagnose and troubleshoot this one, or should I just take this back to the dealer?

Some...I included, have had to adjust the set screw/bump stop portion on either side of the hood to make it a bit tighter fit when closed. I did mine and others also mainly because the hood would flutter in the wind when a big rig was coming at you on a 2 lane...or something similar to that. Not necessarily because of what you are describing, but it's worth a shot.

 

[Bearcatrp]

It’s the flimsy hood that’s so thin to reduce weight. Had dealer adjust mine but still flutters going down the road. Waiting for it to rip off going down the highway.

 

[2003F350]

Just got a new 2024 2500 Rebel w/ Hemi 6.4L this week! Love this truck so far, but maybe I "broke it in" a little too much the first week?

After about 10 hours of driving on bumpy gravel roads it started to develop a pretty good rattle coming from the front-end. It sounds like something plastic is getting bounced around near the front-right of the engine compartment.

I suspect what's happening is either the hood is loose and its tapping the top of the radiator upper seal (the wide plastic part sitting on top of the radiator) or there's just too much play in the radiator upper seal. If I tap on the top of the radiator upper seal with my hand it flexes and hits something metal below it and makes a similar sound. There also appears to be an unusual amount of wear on the hook and closure bracket for the hood for a week-old vehicle, which indicates its probably not fitting securely.

Any advice on how to better diagnose and troubleshoot this one, or should I just take this back to the dealer?

You're under warranty, it shouldn't have started rattling from just gravel roads, go have the dealer take a look.

That said, I routinely drive some pretty bumpy/rough roads and in 22k miles I haven't had any rattles show up, and my hood doesn't flutter.