Hood Latch

Pat Dolan

Veteran Member
Joined
Apr 19, 2002
Location
Martensville, SK
TDI
2003 A4 Variant, 2015 Q7
I had to park the '03 Jetta early this winter, since the hood latch would not release, no room in shop to play with it. Well, need to do some distance next week, so need it on the road. Well, if you have ever had this problem, you know there is no easy solution, since you can't get AT the darn thing. I had installed a badgeless grill and put a steel patch in the hood, but the grill turned out to be a real POS that cracked up probably from a bird strike, but flimsy is the best way to describe. I have a far heavier replacement so no biggie to just cut it away for access. Looked at another one we have in buddy's shop, and got a better picture in my mind than I got from Bentley, but still couldn't figure out why it wasn't working when I yanked on the pop-out release lever. Could see one place if I could get at it where I could put a screwdriver in a slot and pry the release lever to where it should let go, so took out the top 3 bolts the pinched the release in place and slid it up as far as it would go by lifting and blocking the hood. FINALLY could see that what was really wrong is the the pin on the secondary latch had jumped/slipped out of the U shaped receptacle that the release lever pulls on to operate the secondary latch. One quick whack popped it back in place, but there is simply no way I can trust this thing to work forever without the same failure.

My solution was to simply order a new one ($ 109.00 Cdn from VWC) and replace it. If I got over 16 years out of the last one, it should last about the time of the rest of the car.

Wonder if anyone else has had to deal with this??
 

Nero Morg

Top Post Dawg
Joined
Oct 19, 2017
Location
OR
TDI
2014 A6 TDI, 2001 Jetta TDI, 2014 Passat TDI
Yep I had on two cars, same exact issue. Replaced them with a wrecking yard part, both cars fine to this day. I have narrowish arms, and if you jack up the left side a little, I can actually reach up from the back side and flick the lock over by hand. Still not easy to do though.
 

CRJjockey

Member
Joined
Sep 22, 2016
Location
Just North of South Florida
TDI
2003 Jetta TDI 5-speed, 2003 Golf TDI 5-speed
About 5 years ago, I was replacing my broken grill and as soon as I popped the
U-shaped clip and removed the handle the pin fall out. A quick run to the hardware store for a bolt and nylon threaded nut and $.15, problem solved.
 

Rrusse11

Veteran Member
Joined
Jan 23, 2014
Location
PA Deutsch Country
TDI
2002 Golf, 5spd; 05 Jeep CRD
About 5 years ago, I was replacing my broken grill and as soon as I popped the
U-shaped clip and removed the handle the pin fall out. A quick run to the hardware store for a bolt and nylon threaded nut and $.15, problem solved.

And today's Jackpot winner is ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^!
 

Pat Dolan

Veteran Member
Joined
Apr 19, 2002
Location
Martensville, SK
TDI
2003 A4 Variant, 2015 Q7
About 5 years ago, I was replacing my broken grill and as soon as I popped the
U-shaped clip and removed the handle the pin fall out. A quick run to the hardware store for a bolt and nylon threaded nut and $.15, problem solved.
Not the same U shaped part. The one I am referring to is on the lever that moves the secondary catch, it is in behind the mounting surface (front) of the latch assembly. It is a bellcrank with a U shaped socket welded to it, and the pin in question is on the secondary (safety) latch portion of the assembly.
 

[486]

Top Post Dawg
Joined
Mar 1, 2014
Location
MN
TDI
02 golf ALH
Mine's just a coathanger run through the hole rather than the pinned plastic pop out T-handle
ugly as sin, functional as heck

usually the grille can be yanked out with the hood down... Maybe mine's just beat up and worn out.
 
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