Hood release issues with Volvo S70, V70, etc. 1998 - 2000

[MrAl]

Hi,

Oh you mean you used something solid and not compressible? That's interesting too. I have some fender washers around already also.

[MrAl]

Thanks for that--I thought I was the only one pulling the darned release twice, and having to get out of the car in between pulls to yank the hood a little.

Interesting that it worked better on the 850--probably FOMOCO cost cutting!

Hi,

Yes that was my gripe too. You would think that people that could make such good watches at one time could make a hood that opens reliably. No such luck

My old 1988 Hyundai had a pretty big SPRING right at the front of the hood mounted where the plastic cowl is on the Volvo. There was no stopping that spring when the hood release was pulled because it was strong.

I also see some big bolts on either side of the hood on the car body. I wonder if something could be mounted there, like a spring, one on each side. I might look into that too.

[98v70dad]

Hi,

Oh you mean you used something solid and not compressible? That's interesting too. I have some fender washers around already also.

The issue is that the rubber bumpers shrink over time and so does the plastic they close against. The fender washers fill the gap and you can adjust just how much you want to fill that gap by putting more than one on the stack. I chose a bolt with a flatter pan head. My repair was done about 3 years ago and is still going strong-good as day 1. Put a smaller washer on the other side so the nut doesn't pull through the plastic.

Prior to accomplishing my repair I asked a mechanic to fix the problem when I had the car in to do some much bigger jobs. He pulled the rubber bumpers down and wrapped a zip tie around each one so that it would be pushed out away from the hood. This solution puts a lot of strain on the bumper and is a crappy solution. It ticked me off when I found it because it eventually will damage the rubber bumper if left installed. However, it costs nothing and can be accomplished in 30 seconds and will get you by in a bind. That said, he charged me 20 bucks for it and earned my undying disrespect. I haven't been back since.

[MrAl]

Hi,

Sad story. I dont blame you for not going back.
Also, i happen to know that tie wraps can become brittle and break over time, especially with heat cycling.
Yeah a more permanent solution would have been better.
I have to check mine next and see if i can get any of those rubber bumper things.

[volare]

Thanks for that--I thought I was the only one pulling the darned release twice, and having to get out of the car in between pulls to yank the hood a little.

Interesting that it worked better on the 850--probably FOMOCO cost cutting!

Exactly the same issue here, '99 V70R, driver's side hood catches, gotta pull the release 2x, get out, etc etc.
Mad props to rspi as always!

Jay

[sleddriver]

Thanks for that--I thought I was the only one pulling the darned release twice, and having to get out of the car in between pulls to yank the hood a little.

Nope, you're not alone. One indy's solution to my question of how to adjust the hood latches, was to pull the latch, insert a clip-board into the fender gap, then go back and pull it again. The heavy metal clip would lever the hood up enough to get ahold of it.
LOL.......
I finally dug into it one day and fixed it right. Old indy has been sniffing fuel vapors too long......

[bmdubya1198]

Hood release issues with Volvo S70, V70, etc. 1998 - 2000

That's a great idea. Wish I saved the bumpers from my old hood. Once I paint my hood, I don't want to be using my little wedge anymore, it will wear right through the paint.

[hayesman76]

Thanks for that--I thought I was the only one pulling the darned release twice, and having to get out of the car in between pulls to yank the hood a little.

LOL That's EXACTLY what I have to do to get my 1998 S70's hood to pop the release!

[j-dawg]

Probably worth doing preemptively. When that hood sticks shut, it won't be a fun day.