To unlock the VW Golf hood latch, pull the lever in your direction (or whichever model you drive). Get out of your automobile and walk over to the car’s front end. Under the hood’s front lip, look for the hood release lever. Pulling the VW hood latch will raise the hood.
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How is the hood on a Volkswagen Thing opened?
If you’re seeking for directions, you’re probably stuck at the next step of opening the hood. You can’t just lift the hood like a trunk after popping it open since there is a second catch. Feel around by the VW emblem with your fingers when you slide them beneath the hood. Another release lever, which you simply push up with your fingers or draw toward you when you pull up on the weight of the hood, should be located slightly to the right. While some versions have a rod to rest the hood on, others will stay up on their own. This rod can be raised by pulling up on it, then pushed into the matching slot on the interior corner of the hood. You may now inspect that VW engine or show it off to friends.
How to open a broken VW hood
Therefore, if you think the aforementioned part was a “Captain Obvious” ruse on you and you’re having trouble opening your hood because it seems to be broken, read on. Since there are two latches, it is evident that either one could experience a problem. The cable attached to the footwell lever may be damaged or worn if it is that lever that prevents the hood from bouncing. If that succeeds, the lever at your grille is probably what is keeping the hood from popping open.
Option A: Reach through the wheel well
The first thing we did was reach through the wheel well. Remove the driver’s side wheel by raising the automobile. Peel back the fender liner after removing the clips with a trim tool or flat-bladed screwdriver.
You may access the hood release bracket by pulling the headlight bulb out of its socket.
To release the hood, use whatever tool you have at your disposal to pull the cup in the bracket towards the direction of the car’s driver. Picks and pliers were utilized, but we were unsuccessful. Maybe you’ll get lucky this time.
Option B: Pry bar and a prayer
This choice shouldn’t be made if you have weak nerves because there’s a chance the grill could get damaged. Put a cloth around the end of a pry bar and slide it in between the grill and the hood. The two bolts securing the hood latch striker to the hood must be removed.
To remove the two 10mm striker bolts, insert a flex head ratcheting box wrench in between the grill and the hood. As the first bolt becomes quite loose, switch to an open-ended 10mm wrench. By switching out the wrenches, you can avoid having the box wrench get wedged in between the bolt and the grill.
Due to the hood’s pressure keeping the bolt head pressed against the striker plate, just the box wrench is needed to remove the second bolt. You’ll succeed eventually if you persevere!
Your VW hood ought to be open and free at this point. Now is the time to investigate the initial cause of your hood’s sticking and replace any worn-out components, such as the hood release cable, to prevent a recurrence.
Authored by:
owner of a 1973 Porsche 914 and a 1998 Impreza 2.5RS with a flat-six engine swap. only when opposing perspectives are horizontal.
What stores sell hood latches?
Depending on whether your car is an older or newer model, there are many ways to open the hood.
Step 1: Check the vehicle’s interior for a release hatch. Modern vehicles include a latch inside the cabin that releases the hood.
If you don’t know where to look, it can be a little difficult to locate the latch. On your car, the release latch can be located in one of the places listed below:
- By the driver’s door, under the dashboard
- on the dash’s bottom, next to the steering wheel
Step 2: Search the car’s exterior for a release latch. Older models open by pulling back on the underhood clasp.
You’ll need to look for a lever next to the grille or front bumper at the front of the car. To locate the lever, look through the grille, or feel around the edges for a latch.
Before you begin to feel around the grille, be aware that the engine should be completely cool.
Advice: Consult your owners manual if you can’t find the lever, or ask a mechanic to demonstrate where it is and how to open it for you.
What is the cost to repair a hood latch?
How much does it cost to replace a hood latch? A replacement hood latch typically costs $223. For the US in 2019, depending on the brand and type of the car, costs range from $94 to $351.
My car’s hood won’t open; why?
What a bothersome problem! Fortunately, if you can reach the lock with a screwdriver, you can probably open it.
First of all, wait till you haven’t run the engine in 30 minutes before mucking around inside the automobile. Otherwise, you risk self-burning! Pull your car’s hood release after that.
You must now figure out how to get to the latch. If the car doesn’t have a grille, you’ll probably have to reach it from underneath. In order to access the latch on a car with a grille, you can either reach through the grille or take it off.
Ideally, a screwdriver will be enough to trip the latch. Try lubricating the latch to free it if that doesn’t work. Alternately, make that the latch is properly positioned with respect to the latch mechanism. It won’t open if it is out of alignment.
If none of this is successful, you might need to get your automobile serviced so that the hood can be opened.
After an accident, if the hood is damaged and the latch won’t open, you can get the repairs paid for by your auto insurance. Check out the Jerry app if you’re dissatisfied with your insurance.
Jerry is a certified insurance broker who makes it easier to buy insurance. You can obtain a fantastic policy at a reasonable price after a brief search on the app. Jerry also assists you with the paperwork when you’re ready to enroll!