hood latch sucks

[FallinApartBoy]

any ideas on how to fix this? if i pull the lever to open the hood it just goes back down to its original position. but if i pull it enough times and play with it it will eventually stay up and let me open the hood. but if not i pretty much have to hold it up while someone else pulls up on the hood. very annoying

[dunno513]

Probably from too many times of hard closings. I find that the VW hood is always a two handed operation. One to pull the lever out, and the other to lift. First car that I have ever had that is this way. Kinda a pain, but it's designed for easy closing. JUST DONT SLAM IT.

For those of you who are new to the Beetles, do not drop, or slam the hood like you used to do with almost every other vehicle's hood. Simply place the hood down until the latch retracts, then give a slight push till you hear it click.

Anyone having trouble with the latch, Use some penetrating spray like WD-40, or degreaser to clean the snot out of it, then lube it with some silicone, or white lithium grease. This will get all the parts moving again like new. Sounds like the problem you are having is with the release not partially extending and staying when you pull the hood release inside the car. Clean it, and make sure all the springs are still in one piece. Spring steel is usually the first thing to rust in cars since it's not treated and right up front for the elements to eat away at it.

[FallinApartBoy]

someone finally answered me. yay! and your right i was slamming the hood. i will have to stop that. and i checked all the springs and they seem fine so i will clean everything and start from there. thank you.

[from Margaritaville...]

Originally Posted by dunno513

Probably from too many times of hard closings. I find that the VW hood is always a two handed operation. One to pull the lever out, and the other to lift. First car that I have ever had that is this way. Kinda a pain, but it's designed for easy closing. JUST DONT SLAM IT.

For those of you who are new to the Beetles, do not drop, or slam the hood like you used to do with almost every other vehicle's hood. Simply place the hood down until the latch retracts, then give a slight push till you hear it click.

Anyone having trouble with the latch, Use some penetrating spray like WD-40, or degreaser to clean the snot out of it, then lube it with some silicone, or white lithium grease. This will get all the parts moving again like new. Sounds like the problem you are having is with the release not partially extending and staying when you pull the hood release inside the car. Clean it, and make sure all the springs are still in one piece. Spring steel is usually the first thing to rust in cars since it's not treated and right up front for the elements to eat away at it.

Sounds a lot like the old air-cooled bugs...

[SilverSportNOLA]

Mine doesn't shut that easy Dunno ... Pushing it the way you describe will leave a dent in it if done wrong. Every Water Cooled dub I have been under the hood of took a little force or midway up drop to seal the deal.