Passenger Side Hood Latch Won't Release

[precopster]

It pays to have the wheels pointing straight ahead and car not on a large sideways incline.

The flex in the body caused by steering turn or a sideways incline is also enough to prevent the hood release.

There are 2 rubber pads on the underside of the hood that assist with the release. When they get compressed the hood releases badly. You can pack them up with rubber glue and some rubber sheeting or replace them with new items.

[scot850]

I don't think the rubber pads have anything to do with it. The issues I have found is the constant slamming over the years can cause the hood latches to move, also people move them when working on their cars for some reason. The cars I have had issues with were due to the latches not being set correctly and the cables not being tensioned correctly with too much slack in them, and finally lack of lubrication. I have replaced the rubber mounts on 2 cars and it didn't fix either. Only adjustment worked. I removed both headlights (remove the sidelights and take the 6 bolts out the headlights and then adjust the hood latches. Usually the one that is not working is positioned wrongly and needs raised or lowered.

Neil.

[RickHaleParker]

Usually the one that is not working is positioned wrongly and needs raised or lowered.

I loosen the bolts a little, move the latches all the way up, close hood, push down let the hood set the height and alignment. If you run into a problem with hood to fender height alignment, have a second person pull and hold the release as you let up on the hood. Quick, easy not a lot of fussing.

[precopster]

I was never able to adjust the hood latches to give reliable service on my 2000 V70. My cables may have been stretched to a point where it made no difference where the latches were located and I did spend a lot of time on them.

Straight after sale the cable broke near the interior release so perhaps there were only some strands doing the job. It was a high mileage car. I mentioned the pads because I continually had to pull the bonnet up so it would clear the latches after releasing the internal lever. ie. the bonnet would not pop up

If the rubber pads exerted enough upward pressure that wouldn't have happened. Also Robert mentioned them in one of his videos and usually his info is the gospel...

[JimBee]

Glad you were able to get it to open. If the latch is a bit rusty, PB Blaster and working it a few times with the hood open will help to work more smoothly. Use the shank of a screw driver that's about the diameter of the wire loop that closes the latch. Lube the moving parts of the latch, then press the screwdriver shank into the latch to trip it closed. Then pop it open with the trip lever where the cable connects. Do that as many times as needed to get it working freely, squirting in a little more lube as needed.

Once it's operating freely, I lube frequently with bicycle chain lube (tip courtesy of Jimmy57). It's very sticky and stays on the latch parts longer than lithium grease of other lubes.