[Solved] Help! Sticking hood latch release

DH_71631 · Nov 27, 2018

Hey all, I've encountered an issue over the past few weeks where my hood doesn't 'pop' up like it should when you pull the release lever in the cabin. I've searched the forum for this problem, even the Internet but no one seems to be having this same issue, or i'm just not describing it correctly. Anyhow, this forces me to pull up on the hood in a way that I shouldn't have to just to get it open. The last time I had to pull much harder to where you can hear the latch scraping against metal. My fear is that one of these days i'm going to try and change the oil only to fight with the damn hood instead. I'd assume if I had a friend to hold the latch while I open it, I would be fine. But that's annoying and the thing should just work haha

I've tried applying some oil to the seals but it doesn't seem to really help. Are the seals just really old and have been heat-cycled to where they want to adhere to the surface of the hood? Is this even a problem with the seals at all? Any suggestions would be appreciated!

Also, the trunk does the same thing, to which I have found numerous threads about, even one reaching out to the guys over at FIGS to come up with a solution removing the arm bars.

01 SolarYellow · Nov 27, 2018

Adjust the latch height. It has slipped down or something else is out of alignment.

DH_71631 · Nov 28, 2018

I'm not quite sure what you mean by latch height, let alone trying to adjust it. I have a feeling that maybe a spring is weak somehow, I always hear the seals peeling off the hood as I raise it

Ek9B18 · Nov 28, 2018

Is you hood latch area stock? My parts car has once had a FMIC so one of the metal brackets from the lower part of the radiator support to the latch was missing. It allowed the latch to move around instead of responding to the hood latch cable.

DH_71631 · Nov 28, 2018

It's stock, i've never had this problem for the first year of owning the car, then it just slowly kept not opening fully until the hood doesn't move at all, though once pulled, you can tug on the hood to open it.

IM QUIKR · Nov 28, 2018

My latch was acting up and would not reset to lock when I closed the hood. Finally ended up buying a new cable from ebay and now it works just fine.

Bempa · Nov 28, 2018

You should start with just get some good penetrating oil on the hood lock mechanism since a sticking mechanism would cause that kind of problem

DH_71631 · Nov 28, 2018

Bempa said:
You should start with just get some good penetrating oil on the hood lock mechanism

Well i'll be, grabbed the old PB blaster and it works like a charm now! Probably should have thought of that earlier

Anyhow, any ideas for the trunk? I've heard stories of people with their IS trunk coming all the way open on its own. I just sprayed the rear mechanism, but its the same, just a pop with no movement. Is it possible those thin spring-like bars weaken over time, thus being the issue?

TobiasSing · Nov 28, 2018

Maybe take a picture of the hood latch on both sides, like the latch and the hood?

Mine also had the problem where it would stick "open" and not latch. Replaced the cable, fixed it. But I don't see how a cable would help your problem, since it's opening and closing it just fine. Maybe leave the hood open, and latch the latch manually and have someone pull it from inside while you watch and see what happens.

TobiasSing · Nov 28, 2018

Welp, glad you got it fixed at the same time I posted lol

DH_71631 · Nov 28, 2018

Haha I know, but now I would love to get the trunk figured out, seems so tacky for it to not open on its own

TobiasSing · Nov 28, 2018

I've never had a trunk open "on it's own". My cars always just popped, and then I had to lift it. Is that not how the trunk is supposed to work? I mean, I wouldn't want it just flying open by itself lol. Though , now that I think about it, that would be convenient when walking up with groceries and the keyfab.

Bempa · Nov 29, 2018

Yes i would think that they are pretty weak, otherwise the trunk would fly open. Mine does a pretty slow motion up so it seems to be very well calculated strength.

But i dont know if there is different springs if there is a spoiler on the trunk, the weight from a spoiler could easily upset that spring i believe

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[Solved] Help! Sticking hood latch release

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