V70 hood latch not releasing

Post by **scot850** » 16 Sep 2016, 16:36

This car is deciding to be it's usual pain of a self. Add to the radiator issue, the LH hood release won't release unless you put downward weight on the area of the hood by the latch. With the hood open both latches release nicely from the lever in the foot-well, but when closed the LH one will not release without help. Is there a measurement or spec for the height the latch should be? Reason I ask is I can see that the LH latch is sitting higher than it once did if I assume the tell tale of the bolt head marks is correct. I have never had the latches loose, but this LH one measure 3-4mm higher than the RH side one. I can see then why the downward pressure may be needed to get it to release if the height is wrong.

If no-one knows how to set this correctly, I'll have to remove the LH headlight to make sure I can open the hood if I get the LH latch adjustment wrong!!

Thanks,

Neil.

Post by **JBC2565** » 16 Sep 2016, 21:01

Link below is an adjustment under dash. I think you can adjust the latch under the hood as well (to raise or lower so when you pull the cable it releases).

https://www.matthewsvolvosite.com/downlo ... stment.pdf

Post by **JBC2565** » 16 Sep 2016, 21:06

Looks like the bumpers get thin and need to replace or make it thicker again.

https://www.google.com/url?q=http://www ... ge9tvk097w

Post by **scot850** » 16 Sep 2016, 22:44

Thanks for the links. Really appreciated. I'll check the first one but don't think this is the issue as the RH latch opens fine. Like I mentioned, I have suspicions the LH latch has ben re-fitted too high based on the tell tale marks from the bolts showing they have been moved relative to the latch (i.e. the latch has been raised). I plan to pull the LH headlight to allow me to play with height adjustment and still be able to release the latch if I get it wrong without breaking anything (hopefully)!

Neil.

Post by **scot850** » 17 Sep 2016, 16:56

Well was I wrong (my wife would say that is normal!!). I pulled the driver's (LH headlight just in-case before making any adjustments. Decided to try the first link and check the pull lever. Lots of play. Cranks the nut by hand and now it releases every time (knowing my luck that will be till the next time I have to open it!!). Still can't figure why it would release the further away RH side but not the left. Still think at some point I may look at the height of the latch and try reducing it a little.

But thanks again for the guidance!

Neil

Post by **JBC2565** » 17 Sep 2016, 20:46

Good to know. My RH releases but my LH does not. I pull up on hood, go back and pull handle again, then it will release.
Someone told me the two cables get out of sync (one will pull on a latch before the other). I think the handle nut must tighten up the cable so it pulls on both latches. I'll play with it tomorrow.
John

splattj · Post by **splattj** » 18 Sep 2016, 05:46

it's the hood bumpers compressing more over time / getting too thin as mentioned above. if you space out the rubber bumper attached to the hood with a fender washer or 2, you should be sorted.

beigg · Post by **beigg** » 18 Sep 2016, 07:19

A spring loaded "bumper" from an era of vehicle that is (now) considered historical with a poly fitted cap has been an idea I've had in mind for when mine start to become compressed beyond adjustment. Most have a stout spring rate and are compact enough to fit somewhere on each end of the 850 header panel under the hood.

I lend you my idea to give it a try, should you see the concept worth any value. lmk how it turns out if you do decide to go with my idea.

Post by **scot850** » 18 Sep 2016, 22:53

Call me old fashioned, but if the bumper system has worked well for 16-17 years (or 20 + on our 850) if the belief is the problem is the buffers wearing out, why not just replace the buffers or is that too easy? The 2 buffers on the V/S 70 are about $2/ea from FCP and dealers, and 850's are more for some reason (even though the outers look the same) the outer ones are $5/ea and the little central one that screw in are about the same, so $20 in total for an 850.

Neil.