Frozen hood latch

[wells]

How does one open a frozen front hood latch?

[bren]

With a heater?

[Dustin]

I had to cut the latch in half before to get a hood open when the hood was smashed. You may have to do that and get a new latch. Its unlocked right? with the release in the glove box? Sometimes those are tricky and just messing with it a little and with another person trying to open the hood while messing with the release

[ghiastein]

I have no experience with this on a Beetle but when I use to work for an auto shop. We often came across a sticky hood. How we unstuck it was to have someone in the car pulling the hood release while someone else was smashing on the hood with their fist. It always worked at the shop.

[wells]

The cable comes out under the glove box. I have pulled the darned thing many times and it won't release. The outside handle does not have a lock, only a push button. I'll get my wife to help me tomorrow and hopefully it will work. Otherwise, I'll have to cut off the handle and see of I can open it that way. Thanks, GoodVolks!
Wells

[wells]

I forgot... Good one Bren!

[Dustin]

This is on a 71 Beetle? The hood release should be in the glove box. Under the dash is a pull release for the gas flap. Also I didn't mean a lock on the hood handle the release in the glove box is the lock. Good luck and let us know if you get it loose. Like AJ said as well sometimes a good love tap is what they need.

[bren]

Sorry, I had to do it. ;D

On the '73 std. I used to have, the release was also in the glovebox. That release lever was not too good. Mounted to a cardboard glove box it easily fails. I had to destroy the glove box to get at the wire for the relaese. I grabbed it with vice grips and pulled and the hood released.

[wells]

The wire is located beneath the glove box. Next to the gas flap cable. Silver handle. We bought this from a senior citizen 15 years ago. The "mechanic" she used did some strange things and may have moved it so she could get to it. I found that this "mechanic" would just run a new wire whenever something was wrong in the electrical system. I found some several wires added from the radio hot wire; some real strange configuratons. One of the many things I need to do is put on a new wire harness. I'll try to get the release again today but I'll probably end up performing surgery with my saw.

[wells]

Vice grips and a bruising right hand opened the critter up. Still hurts. Found rust through the front of both pans. Both deck lids are off and the gas tank out. Fenders and engine are next.

Wells