How To Open A Hood With A Broken Hood Latch - Vokswagen MK7 DIY

► We were working on our MK7 GTI one day and encountered a pretty serious problem-the hood wouldn't open. Pulling the hood release by the pedals yielded nothing, and we needed to get under the hood. So, what do you do?
We did what any other MK7 GTI owner would do: check the internet. What we found were a couple of suggestions that mentioned absolutely annihilating the VW logo to get to the hood latch at the front of the car. They worked, sure, but you have to replace the grille afterward. So, we thought of another way.
In this very quick-and-dirty DIY (notice the head-mounted GoPro from Mr. Coal Miner Cory), we prop the hood up slightly with a microfiber-wrapped prybar in order to gain access to the two bolts located at the front of the hood. Then, by using a ratcheting wrench we ever-so-slightly jostled the bolts loose enough for the hood to open completely without having to use the latch.
Upon further inspection, we noticed the actual receiver for the hood latch cable-the part that connects under the hood by the battery-had shattered.
Stay tuned for an upcoming DIY where we'll actually install the hood release. For now, we just wanted to share how we actually got the hood open.
Read this DIY on our blog: blog.fcpeuro.com/how-to-open-...
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Symptoms & Failures:
-VW Mk7 Hood Latch Broken
-VW MK7 Hood Release Broken
-Golf GTI Bonnet Release
-Golf GTI Bonnet Release Broken
-Golf GTI Hood Latch Broken
-VW MK7 Hood Latch Won't Open
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[@fcpeuro]

Shop the parts used in this video here: www.fcpeuro.com/products/vw-hood-release-cable-genuine-vw-5g0823535b? www.fcpeuro.com/products/vw-cable-genuine-vw-5g1823531c#fitment?

[@awe84]

Absolutely perfect! Mine broke on me a week after buying it. Took a similar approach to using a long 10mm flexi-head ratchet spanner, but instead of using a pry bar on the grille, i used a couple of hand pump driven inflatable mats, placed roughly 10-12 inches either side of the VW emblem, and then loosened the rear bolt first given that would be the most difficult of the two, 30 mins or so later and the bonnet popped open. Sure enough the piece of plastic holding the ball from the rear release cable had snapped. New one fitted and cabled tied.

[@rizkhokhar99]

Awesome, just bought two spanners and managed to get it done in 45 minutes on my MK 7. Many thanks for this video.

[@pauldavid3634]

Thanks a lot man, saved my life. Got the hood locked after I replaced the headlight, I first used the "ABN Metric 8mm x 10mm Extra Long Flex Head 12 Point Double Box End Ratcheting Wrench" but went to far and got it stucked with the bolt. So I used a XL 10mm wrench to unbolt the second bolt, was a bit tricky but this one might actually be a bit easier with a regular wrench. I used a pry bar too.

[@MrJSmithify]

Hey Cory, thank you so much for putting this video together, I phoned around a few garages and they refused to take the work on so I had to do it myself. There are very few resources on the internet for those of us unlucky enough to have their bonnet cable snap, really appreciate you guys taking the time to document this solution!

[@FM-mb2lu]

We’re sitting here with my daughters car in the same pickle. Just went to buy the wrenches. Wish us luck! This is a messed up system. Zero backup hood release. All depends on one little plastic piece. When that fails it’s tragic. VW wants $800 for the cable replacement

[@MrJSmithify]

Good luck mate! Patience is the key to this one, make yourself comfortable and put the radio on because you'll be fiddling around and swearing at it for at least an hour :) Here are the spanners I used; www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B014R5RPJ2?ref_=cm_sw_r_cp_ud_dp_BCERYZY60YPKJ6M0E91V www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B079WQKGVL/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1 In the end I needed both a ratcheting flex and non-ratcheting non-flex to get the two bolts. In my case the plastic junction box snapped because the bonnet latch had corroded and locked closed, so when I pulled the handle the cable put too much load on the junction box and snapped. So, once you've broken in I recommend making sure the latch is properly lubricated, otherwise you might be doing the same job again in 6 months time :) Final note is that if you have to replace the half of the cable closest to the front of the vehicle, make sure you loop the new cable back over the plastic retaining clips that sit just behind the grille - otherwise when you won't get the tension that you need to open the bonnet when you put it all back together.

[@pipishere]

Just done this with my Seat Ibiza (6J) and cannot thank you enough!

[@alanmckeown]

Thank you so much for this video - without it I just wouldn’t have persevered …eventually got the two bolts out after a lot of fiddling and swearing!! Thanks again such a great help 👍

[@horacio_powder]

Thanks for this! I was able to get it open using this method, a pry bar, and just a small flat 10mm wrench (would have been nice to have a longer one, but I thumb wrestled it and won). That piece of plastic is the same thing that broke on mine, if I had known that it was so weak I would have used caution every time I opened the hood. I imagine that for most people that find there way here it is too late. It would be nice to have some instructions on how to install the new part. For now Im just going to clamp it together before attempting a full replacement.

[@Carlos.78]

Hello Cory, thank you for the instructions. It was a great battle to open the hood and finally i was able to open it. Thank you so much. Greetings from Germany.

[@fcpeuro]

No problem 👍

[@gmans7859]

Thank You for the insight. So this weekend as we all work on our cars, and while it's NOT broken, let's plan out the attack should this happen. And remember, Always Keep a Spare!!

[@fcpeuro]

Good idea on the preventative maintenance and keeping a spare!

[@danklinnert2248]

You saved me a lot of time, It worked on my 2015 Golf TDI. THANK YOU.

[@thatboylyle7431]

Just found out today that my hood won't open. Glad I found this video. Going to try and get it open will its the weekend.

[@Turbozee]

Great video iv already hacked one grill away and replaced the cable and just had this cable snap on me! Definitely be trying this

[@blueridgerennsport]

Today marked the second trip to the dealer for my mk7.5 GTI and the second time they were unsuccessful at getting the hood open, and it's the second time they've told me they need to order parts and to send it back next week. They've promised an oil change and a hand wash for the delays 😄 Something tells me they are going to hack up the grille next time, so I am going to take a close look at it when it comes back. I could've had this fixed weeks ago, but the car is still under warranty - not going to tie up a bay and pay one of my guys to do something VW is responsible for 😉 Good video, hope it helps someone 👍

[@SpytheGSD]

Thanks. I threw a wire through the latch after fixing it so that I have a secondary means of opening the hood if this happens again

[@tonhoraimurgorgo3420]

Hi. Thanks, it gives a place to start. I got the same problem with a Touran. I hope I will come right.

[@MaxamillianStudio]

So this video is amazingly helpful. The fact that this part is so crappy that this video is necessary is pure VW and pure Evil. The plastic parts are garbage, and I had to replace this part 3 times.

[@marie-clairedulac1124]

Where is the DIY video to install the new part 😩 I need your help !!

[@alexbaradoy]

I'm going to try your method, thanks

[@TheFlyingPLiner]

You guys should offer a refresh kit/diy so we can swap this out before it breaks. My guess is the 5 year mark would be a good time to replace.

[@fcpeuro]

That's a good idea!

[@dice1902]

Mines just went 😭VW wanted £350 to fix it nope

[@fcpeuro]

@@dice1902 Now you know, easy enough fix on your own!

[@issacnewton9443]

Yeah replace the weak plastic bits with metal.

[@FM-mb2lu]

@@dice1902 They wanted to charge my daughter $800.

[@daniellekelly2029]

U r soon awesome I changed my alternator on my 09 jetta 2.5 and before testing I shut hood hood and forgot to hook back up the latch .now I have an issue with new alternator and I can't get under the hood it's 11:15 pm I was supposed to be at work by thank u thank u thank u

[@Axabraxa]

Greta video! Any suggestions on how keep the lock from going stiff besides spraying with rust remover/wd40? to avoid this cheap vw plastic parts to break? I think I’m lucky with it being the handle connection inside the car being broken. So a bit easier to get to and hopefully pull the cable with pliers. 🤞🤞

[@nathegwxm]

Hey. I have had this exact problem. Managed to reach through from underneath to open it though. My question is....... My cable snapped just like this one. Any advice or videos relating to the replacement of that cable? I can't see a way of accessing the actual bonnet latch.

[@TheFlyingPLiner]

Great diy to know, sad to see VW still has hood issues. It seems all the German car manufacturers build their cable/latch systems out of the most brittle material on earth.

[@evapartments6938]

Mine snapped at 7k miles

[@TheFlyingPLiner]

@@evapartments6938 My mk7 is at 60k miles no problems so far, but the cable on my e82 broke at 36k and it was an absolute nightmare to fix.

[@anelnell583]

good stuff

[@tedjohnson64]

Nice tip! Any suggestions for reinforcing the weak portion of the hood release mechanism?

[@fcpeuro]

You can ziptie the outter shell so it doesnt pop loose, but as far as reinforcing the plastic part internally there is really no option unfortunately.

[@Eyeheartbrain]

Where is the video of the repair? 11 months and no video?

[@mauriciojaimes]

Dam I wish I can lift my car like you guys. It must be easier. Lol

[@jonstricker1173]

Just got mine open today, thanks buddy... P.s that back bolt sucks the most, it took forever

[@billphil8235]

Why not switch back and forth each side. Allowing hood to raise. Giving more and more room.

[@AlexK-hr8uz]

Cool!

[@dcobeo7931]

how do i get one of those tees???

[@TheOrvilleF]

Damn Needed this

[@DeAlmeidaJ]

Hello thank you for the video. It's work for a golf 7 2013?

[@fcpeuro]

Thank you for watching! MK7 latches should be the same all the way around!

[@simz5347]

welp i just needed this

[@fcpeuro]

I guess you can say that it's perfect timing!

[@simz5347]

FCP Euro actually was lol, got mad and broke the hood right before the vid came out tho

[@fcpeuro]

@@simz5347 nuuuuuuuhhh!

[@CatonsvilleCentralRwy]

Me and my A3 with three hood latches are waiting for a grand old time when the same happens

[@fcpeuro]

As long as you are prepared to fight the good fight.

[@golavoda2644]

Can I try this method on 2016 Passat?

[@fcpeuro]

You can try, it might be a bit different but worth a shot!

[@zouaghihamza672]

Its just impossible

[@staygolden84]

All that fuvking bull shit for a latch LOLOL

[@anthonyfrantzis5844]

Bad instructions. U didn't even show where the ratchet was working on after.

[@choongheehan7380]

Looks like fake video clip.