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NOTAHONDA Vegas Don

Joined: September 30, 2006 Posts: 1410 Location: Arizona
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Posted: Fri Jun 19, 2009 1:00 pm Post subject: How to: Open a stuck hood |
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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.
Once its cut in half cut twist each side to your left, this will unscrew the nut.
Thats it, the hood should lift right up. Just get a new or used handle and fix the problem that made it get stuck..
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outoftheoffice Samba Member

Joined: March 02, 2009 Posts: 470 Location: Houston, Texas
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Posted: Mon Jun 22, 2009 7:55 am Post subject: |
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Wow, very useful information. Thanks for posting |
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Juice C Samba Member

Joined: October 27, 2008 Posts: 289 Location: Augusta Ks.
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Posted: Sat Jun 27, 2009 2:16 pm Post subject: |
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I've never thought of that. Its genius. |
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dantrefethen Samba Member

Joined: April 28, 2004 Posts: 729 Location: Boise Idaho
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Posted: Sat Jun 27, 2009 10:49 pm Post subject: |
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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 Samba Member

Joined: March 26, 2006 Posts: 1041 Location: Arizona
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Posted: Sat Jun 27, 2009 11:47 pm Post subject: |
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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 _________________ These vws are cool but the people who own them are far more valuable. Keep friends close they can be taken away overnight.
57 ghia
“57 factory safari 11 window”
59 patina ghia
61 patina Ghia
71 bus
74 thing
75 half bug |
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Eric&Barb Samba Member

Joined: September 19, 2004 Posts: 25475 Location: Olympia Wash Rinse & Repeat
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Posted: Thu Jul 02, 2009 9:33 pm Post subject: |
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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. _________________ In Stereo, Where Available! |
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1973 MELLOW YELLOW Samba Member

Joined: August 28, 2007 Posts: 62 Location: United Kingdom
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Posted: Fri Jul 03, 2009 4:04 pm Post subject: |
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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!  |
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hitest Samba Member

Joined: September 30, 2008 Posts: 10318 Location: Prime Meridian, ID
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Posted: Wed Aug 19, 2009 8:29 pm Post subject: |
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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. _________________
EverettB wrote: |
I wonder what the nut looks like.
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'62 L390 151, '62 L469 117, '63 L380 113, '64 L87 311, '65 L512 265, '65 L31 SO-42, '66 L360 251, '68 L30k 141, '71 L12 113, '74 ORG 181
FU#5 |
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Eric&Barb Samba Member

Joined: September 19, 2004 Posts: 25475 Location: Olympia Wash Rinse & Repeat
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Posted: Wed Aug 19, 2009 8:32 pm Post subject: |
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You mean the spring in your hood latch is/was missing/broken?? _________________ In Stereo, Where Available! |
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58volks Samba Member

Joined: February 28, 2009 Posts: 67
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Posted: Thu Aug 20, 2009 9:05 am Post subject: |
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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 Samba Member
Joined: March 12, 2009 Posts: 144 Location: Cedar Rapids, IA
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Posted: Sun Nov 08, 2009 5:32 pm Post subject: |
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I know of another method involving the glovebox and a midget... |
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63Shagginwagen Samba Member
Joined: December 19, 2009 Posts: 130 Location: Annapolis
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Posted: Wed Feb 17, 2010 11:54 am Post subject: |
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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. _________________ Daily- '63 Beetle, Restoring- '71 Super
Rare for sale - Ask for details - Limited time only! |
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fastonthetrack Samba Member
Joined: April 06, 2011 Posts: 2 Location: Yelm, Wa
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Posted: Wed Apr 06, 2011 12:51 pm Post subject: |
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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 Samba Member

Joined: August 29, 2009 Posts: 58 Location: Vancouver, no, not that one, the original one
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Posted: Wed Apr 06, 2011 1:09 pm Post subject: |
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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. _________________ Mine: 1966 Karmann Ghia coupe
Wife's: 1973 Standard Beetle, her daily driver
Karmann Ghia - a German Alfa Romeo or an Italian Porsche? |
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BluegrassMan Samba Member

Joined: February 06, 2012 Posts: 75 Location: Kentucky
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Posted: Thu Feb 09, 2012 10:37 am Post subject: |
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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 Samba Member

Joined: July 07, 2011 Posts: 466 Location: Gig Harbor, WA
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Posted: Thu Feb 09, 2012 10:40 am Post subject: |
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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
_________________ - e
'63 Beetle Ragtop - (Build in progress)
'00 Jetta 1.8T |
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61SNRF Samba Member

Joined: March 29, 2009 Posts: 4656 Location: Whittier 90602
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Posted: Thu Feb 09, 2012 10:53 am Post subject: |
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The knob is number 10 here (from the same book )...
_________________ -Bruce
An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. |
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BluegrassMan Samba Member

Joined: February 06, 2012 Posts: 75 Location: Kentucky
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Posted: Thu Feb 09, 2012 11:31 am Post subject: |
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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 Samba Member
Joined: June 22, 2012 Posts: 4 Location: Spokane Washington
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Posted: Tue Jul 03, 2012 8:39 am Post subject: Stuck hood |
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Thank you very much for the reply! This was the only way I could think too! |
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TCBeier Samba Member

Joined: June 12, 2012 Posts: 109 Location: Granite Bay, Ca.
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Posted: Mon Jul 09, 2012 10:30 pm Post subject: |
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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. _________________ Here's to women, that wonderful vine. She blooms every month, bears every nine. She is the only creature this side of hell...can draw juice from a nut, without crackin' the shell. - CHEERS!
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=525849&highlight=stute
http://stutethewonderbug.blogspot.com/ |
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