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HELP! Hood still stuck, would someone please...?

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help hood please someone still stuck would
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69K views 73 replies 28 participants last post by  mbennett555  
R
#1 · (Edited)
Sorry for double-posting on the same subject: http://www.passatworld.com/forums/showthread.php?t=170058 but I wanted to grab attention and editing the title won't show up...

Anyway, would someone with a B5 please open up their hood, cause the latch to close (with a screwdriver or something), and then operate the latch enough to explain to me what I have to do to get this hood open? :bowdown:

I have tried everything suggested in the other thread, and nothing works. I took the belly pan off, but there is absolutely no hope of getting my arm up in there to unbolt the latch assy. DaddyMatt emailed some pictures of the latch - based on the pics, I tried a couple of things with a screwdriver and it just wouldn't budge. I just can't figure it out.

I'm about ready to check with the dealer's service dept...
 
A
#2 ·
Oh Rusty -

The little pull thingy no longer pops out on my bonnet. I have to reach under there and yank the pull, and then it opens. Have you tried just yanking the t-handle? My hood doesn't lift at all when I pull the cable. This is new as of the timing belt job.
 
R
#3 · (Edited)
Yes, I've tried just yanking the T-handle. No dice.

Rusty said:
:D I have 120K on my original AEB K03, and it's still pumping out more boost than I have fuel for... :D

If only I could get my hood up...

This is the price I pay for popping my hood (to let the heat out) every time I park the car. I get a turbo that lasts to 120K, but I can't get the hood open!!! :biglaugh:
Click to expand...
 
M
#4 ·
Try to reach from under car .Now , normaly there is a plastic shield ( I don't have it)whitch removed will alow you to reach some how thru your engine parts.

Never happen to me, but I think u can manage something
give me 2 min and I'll get my hood opened to see if I can see how to open it from underneeth.
Excuse my english , I'm not that good on spelling! Marius
 
M
#5 ·
I got back.

Now, I have check, indeed U can reach the cable from the left side of the car if U can get the car up on the ramp or the big hidraulic jack(I realy don't know the terminology), but is it with chance.

Don't know if u have a mountain bike arond.If so, please go and check the cable wich swich the gears of the bike.It is a steel cable with a plastic shirt (cober) and to the both ends there are on the plastic shirt strong finish.So the steel cable it is slightly shorter than the plastic shirt, so when U pull only the steel cable moves and the plastic shirt stand steel.What U need to do is to reach this cable from underneth the car, to try to cut this plastic shirt and to pull only the steel cable.U may succede.It is dificult, but (I hope) I think not impossible.

The cable it is not reachebele even if U manage to get out your grill.It's route is right under the hood edge and comes out from the car right close to the black box we have to the right side of the batery(as U see the engine comp in front of the car.

So to reach the cable from below the car,(remove the plastic sheeld if any) U will get as much possible close to the left headlight lamp(your hand will fit, don't know if will be long enough)between the lamp and the steering oil expansion tank .Stay as mouch possible close to the lamp.As you reach the front edge of the hood U have to find that cable I was talking about.

For better location try to chech other passat.This positioning fit an 1.8 ( engine compartiment non turbo)

Even better try to see the owner manual, to identify your tipe and to identify the cable I'm talkin' about.

Goood Luck! Let me know if U get the point, and if U did it!Take care!Marius
 
J
#7 ·
I just took a look at my latch assembly. The release lever that the cable end attaches to is internal to the latch assembly. No portions of the release lever protrude the metal housing of the latch assembly. I was able to trip mine with a screw driver, but I had to work down through the same opening that the hood catch goes into; there would be no access from that direction with the hood closed. There may be access from below but there is no way to fit an arm up between the radiator/fan assemble and the engine. I would imagine that some bright Tech at VW has devised a special tools that can fit up in that space and trip the release.

Have you been able to get to the cable at all, or have you determined that the cable end has separated from the latch? I still say the best access is through the gap between the windshield and the back edge of the hood and pulling the cable out until you can see to the plastic connector housing that mounts on the fender lip. Open it and pull the cable while pushing the cable jacket. But all that assumes the cable end is still attached to the latch lever. If not...
 
R
#8 ·
I am certain that the cable end is still attached to the release lever. Regardless, I have tried your method and cannot see any access to the cable. There really is no "gap" between the windshield and the back edge of the hood. Do you not have the black plastic fill piece with all the little vertical holes? If it weren't for that fill piece, I could see how it's possible, but I just don't see a way down in there...

Well, gotta go cook breakfast now. Tackle it again later today...
 
J
#9 · (Edited)
Yes, I have the black plastic piece with vertical slots. There is a gap between that piece and the bottom of the hood; about 3/8". Shine a flashlight in there and you will see the cable between the ECU box and the fender. I would get a length of strong cord, slide it in the gap with a slenden piece of wood - say a 1/8" dowel - and make it pass between the cable and the fender/hood hinge mount. Now you need a retriever tool - the spring loaded type with multi-prong tip, or the same 1/8" dowel with a wire hook at the tip - reach in the gap and hook the cord at a point beyond the cable and pull it back out the gap, this time on the ECU box/engine side of the cable. You should now have two ends of a cord that is looped around the cable. Pull both ends at the same time (rearward and toward the engine) and the plactic cable splice cover should come loose from the top of the fender. If you can get the plastic cover out the gap - it looks like it will fit on my car - you will be home free. Worst case you may need to cut away a little of that black plastic.
 
R
#10 ·
QUICK UPDATE:
I can't say much 'cause I have a project due at work and must attend to it.

1) Coming up through the bellypan: I was able to successfully grab the cable just behind the driver's-side headlight. Could not budge it. From its behavior, I am now convinced that the cable is disconnected/broken at the latch end.

2) DaddyMatt sent an awesome video of the latch operating. I now have a clue, and think I can make a hook-thingie out of coat hanger wire or scrap aluminun stock to trip the latch. More detailed update later.
 
D
#14 ·
Rusty said:
BETTER update:
I finally discovered Matt's second video. Wow. Complete tutorial!!! I'm off to find myself a looonnngg, skinny, flathead screwdriver. Update tonight...
Click to expand...
Yeah, like think I said earlier (it was pretty late when I typed the email), the worst part is the plastic shield on top of the latch mechanism. You'll probably have to cut through it somehow in order to access the mechanism....unfortunately one of VW's better designs on this car! :mad:

I suppose you could just slide a hacksaw blade in and cut through the shackle, but it is part of the hood and not replacable......I can't think of a better justification for a Boeser Hood, though! :thumbup: If Sharky is right, you could order it now and it will probably arrive just in time! :poke:
 
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R
#15 ·
Update:
The curve of the hood prohibits getting anything remotely straight through the hood gasket gap. I tried getting up in there with a coat hanger last night. I doubt a screwdriver could be bent sufficiently w/o breaking it; and if it could be, it would then become useless to leverage the latch with.

So I'm gonna drill. A hole or two. Gonna getta long drill bit and matching-diameter flathead screwdriver today. Drill a finger-sized hole in the front piece of plastic. Drill a screwdriver-sized hole in the back piece of metal-reinforced plastic. Insert screwdriver, pry and twist, and... bada-boom, bada-bing! I hope...

Or maybe I'll wait two more weeks... :p :)
 
D
#16 ·
Just remember, somewhere right below there is the radiator, etc, etc. I'd love to help you out some more but I draw the line at automotive frontal lobotomies! If you need any more pictures though, I'll be glad to help with that.

I love it, Rusty...with this kind of drama, who needs reality shows?! I'm staying tuned!
 
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D
#18 ·
atomicalex said:
Oh, just weld a new shackle on. Big whoop. :p ;)
Click to expand...
Nah...don't listen to her! Do this instead :thumbup: :
Image


...and order some LED headlight washer nozzles while you're at it and save on shipping.

Ah yes, having fun at Rusty's expense...a great American pastime. :biglaugh:
 
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R
#19 ·
Heh-heh.

[Calvin]IT'S LOBOTOMY TIME!!!![/Calvin]

At lunch I got a very nice S-K screwdriver, shaft is about 3/8" diameter, about 10" long, flathead. Am borrowing a 1/4" aircraft (long-assed) drill bit from work (it's great having a machine shop here). Sha'n't be long now - just as soon as I get home from work...
 
R
#21 ·
Hey, that's an idea! Maybe Andy Chen can help... :biglaugh:

Well I got the holes drilled and screwdriver successfully inserted. But I can't "feel" well enough to engage the latch. From Matt's videos, pics, and measurements, I suspect I'm a bit low and I need to elongate the rear hole (the small one through the metal part) upward. However, I refuse to cut, stab, push, press, or pry any more until I can see what I'm doing. 300W of halogen spotlight from the engine compartment is not enough to get light into the inner hood latch area. So today I go in search of a miniature fiber-optic or LED gooseneck lamp that will fit through the holes so I can see what I'm doing...

I'm almost there...
 
R
#22 ·
*sigh*

I got a small gooseneck LED light so I could see what I'm doing.

While I was out I dropped by the VW dealer to see if I could peek under the hood of a used B5 to look at the latch mechanism. They didn't have a single one on the lot! But they had one in the service bay that they let me peek at :icon_eek: , and by chance one of the retaining pins on the plastic cover was missing, so I got a real good view of the latch innards.

My hole is way too low. The latch lever is about 1/2" higher than my hole. The hole is at the top edge of the vertical part of the barrier, so if I am to have any hope of getting to the latch lever, I'm going to have to drill/file about 1/2" forward into the horizontal part of the barrier. Ugh. Pray for me (or my car, or both!)...

The fortitude of the plucky spirit of DIY is being sorely tested, but I WILL PREVAIL! :)

BTW at the dealer, they had a 1978 Scirocco in the showroom. Only 30K miles, always garaged, was traded in for a new Jetta. Brand-new condition. $9900. Truly incredible car.
 
R
#25 · (Edited)
Here's the promised pics. Again, many thanks to DaddyMatt who sent me tons of pics and even two videos of the latch operating.
Matt, I couldn't have done it without you! :thumbup: :bowdown:

Front Hole, centered 1" to the driver's side of centerline:
Image


Rear Slot, also centered 1" (sort of) to the driver's side of centerline:
Image


Engaging the hood latch - this latch must be pushed to the passenger side to release the hood:
Image


Vertical Angle of attack:
Image


Horizontal Angle of Attack:
Image


Tools used:
Image
 
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