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How to: Open a stuck hood
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NOTAHONDA
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PostPosted: Fri Jun 19, 2009 1:00 pm    Post subject: How to: Open a stuck hood Reply with quote

Seems like theres alot of topics on how to open a stuck hood that wont open due to a broken or stretched cable or some other reason. This just happened to me so I took pictures and show how to open it. Theres no need to cut a hole to reach in or other destructive methods, this take under 5 mins.

First off, you need to cut the handle in half with a grinder, air cutoff wheel, etc.

Image may have been reduced in size. Click image to view fullscreen.

Image may have been reduced in size. Click image to view fullscreen.


Once its cut in half cut twist each side to your left, this will unscrew the nut.

Image may have been reduced in size. Click image to view fullscreen.

Image may have been reduced in size. Click image to view fullscreen.


Thats it, the hood should lift right up. Just get a new or used handle and fix the problem that made it get stuck..

Image may have been reduced in size. Click image to view fullscreen.
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outoftheoffice
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PostPosted: Mon Jun 22, 2009 7:55 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Wow, very useful information. Thanks for posting
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Juice C
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PostPosted: Sat Jun 27, 2009 2:16 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

I've never thought of that. Its genius.
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dantrefethen
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PostPosted: Sat Jun 27, 2009 10:49 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Also a good way to get into your locked car, lost keys.

Cut off the handle, go in through the the glove box

Dan
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Deluxe Lowlight Ghia
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PostPosted: Sat Jun 27, 2009 11:47 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

dantrefethen wrote:
Also a good way to get into your locked car, lost keys.

Cut off the handle, go in through the the glove box

Dan

remember if a theif wants your car bad enough he/she will get it no matter what you do
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Eric&Barb
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PostPosted: Thu Jul 02, 2009 9:33 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

While that will work, first try this. Shove downward three times on the hood handle. Then most likely the hood latch will pop open without needing one to be destructive.
Hood latches are a three position latch.
1. broken cable or loose cable and open goes the latch when the friction is released from shoving downward.
2. Properly adjusted cable keeps latch in closed position.
3. Pulled cable and latch swings away from position 1 to open normally.
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1973 MELLOW YELLOW
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PostPosted: Fri Jul 03, 2009 4:04 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

If EVER adjusting or working on the bonnet release mechanism, you should remove the spare wheel. If for any reason the bonnet (hood?????) wont open, reach in with a ratchet and extension and undo to nuts on either the handle, latch or both. The flex from even having these slightly loose will enable you to open the bonnet with one sharp tug.


I always screw up adjusting the cable and this has been a real life saver! The first time I did it it was just coincidence that the wheel was out but after that, I ALWAYS remove it if I am doing anything remotely to do with the release! Wink
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hitest
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PostPosted: Wed Aug 19, 2009 8:29 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Eric&Barb wrote:
While that will work, first try this. Shove downward three times on the hood handle. Then most likely the hood latch will pop open without needing one to be destructive.
Hood latches are a three position latch.
1. broken cable or loose cable and open goes the latch when the friction is released from shoving downward.
2. Properly adjusted cable keeps latch in closed position.
3. Pulled cable and latch swings away from position 1 to open normally.


Unfortunately, a working return spring makes all the above advice moot.
There's no way one could do battle with my '63's hood handle in such a manner.
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I wonder what the nut looks like.



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Eric&Barb
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PostPosted: Wed Aug 19, 2009 8:32 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

You mean the spring in your hood latch is/was missing/broken??
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58volks
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PostPosted: Thu Aug 20, 2009 9:05 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

AWW SH*T !!!! 5 days before this was posted I had to cut my spare wheel well!!

It was the wrong year front anyway......
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rgambord
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PostPosted: Sun Nov 08, 2009 5:32 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

I know of another method involving the glovebox and a midget...
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63Shagginwagen
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PostPosted: Wed Feb 17, 2010 11:54 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

dantrefethen wrote:
Also a good way to get into your locked car, lost keys.

Cut off the handle, go in through the the glove box

Dan


I know this post is waaayyy old. But I just lol'd in the middle of my class and got a few stares. Great visualization! haha

new sig.
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fastonthetrack
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PostPosted: Wed Apr 06, 2011 12:51 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Old post, but i'm having a weird issue with my latch on my 69. Sometime i just push the button and the hood opens, and other times it just wont open not matter what i do to the latch.. I cant figure it out!
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wjoef
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PostPosted: Wed Apr 06, 2011 1:09 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

My wife's car ('73 standard), had occasional problems with the hood not wanting to open also.

Close inspection of the seal retaining flange (the flange that holds the rubber seal in place), revealed / indicated that the hood was catching on the flange (or vice versa).

I took a body hammer and dolly and carefully "smoothed" out the flange and the edge of the hood. No more problems with the hood getting stuck closed.
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BluegrassMan
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PostPosted: Thu Feb 09, 2012 10:37 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

I have what is supposed to be a 67. I cannot find where or how the hood is supposed to open. There is no holes in the glove box or anyhting I can find that looks like a release lever. I am hesitiant to cut off the handle until I can try to figure out how it is supposed to open or where that release cable might be.

Advice and info greatly appreciated
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Snydr
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PostPosted: Thu Feb 09, 2012 10:40 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

BluegrassMan wrote:
I have what is supposed to be a 67. I cannot find where or how the hood is supposed to open. There is no holes in the glove box or anyhting I can find that looks like a release lever. I am hesitiant to cut off the handle until I can try to figure out how it is supposed to open or where that release cable might be.

Advice and info greatly appreciated


From the Type 1 '67 Manual (see: THE KNOB): http://www.thesamba.com/vw/archives/manuals/bug67models.php

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61SNRF
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PostPosted: Thu Feb 09, 2012 10:53 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

The knob is number 10 here (from the same book Wink )...
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BluegrassMan
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PostPosted: Thu Feb 09, 2012 11:31 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Thanks for that. So I went ahead and cut the handle. But now at least I have that hood open.
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jkbnoble
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PostPosted: Tue Jul 03, 2012 8:39 am    Post subject: Stuck hood Reply with quote

Thank you very much for the reply! This was the only way I could think too!
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TCBeier
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PostPosted: Mon Jul 09, 2012 10:30 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Deluxe Lowlight Ghia wrote:
dantrefethen wrote:
Also a good way to get into your locked car, lost keys.

Cut off the handle, go in through the the glove box

Dan

remember if a theif wants your car bad enough he/she will get it no matter what you do


how can you go through the glove box? The screw holding it in is under the bonnet.
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