Author Topic: Can't Open The Front Hood (Read 4529 times)

bwaz · « **on:** November 04, 2005, 08:47:39 AM »

Trying to open the front hood of my new 68, and can't! Tried pulling or pushing the arm in the glove box, but without success. I can push the button on the handle up front, but with no luck. Had a look in the small gap and can see the button releasing the latch, but I guess the cable from the lever isn't pulling it tight enough. I remember a metal arm and lever on my old 69 but this is a plastic unit. Don't know if it's a 68 only, or an aftermarket replacement. ANy ideas?
thanks
Brian

busnerd · « **Reply #1 on:** November 04, 2005, 06:16:50 PM »

get someone to hold the lever back in the glove box while you lift the hood. Ive had it where the hood doesn't pop up so it just re-latches when you go around to the front to open it. That's all I got, good luck

Bruce · « **Reply #2 on:** November 04, 2005, 11:45:09 PM »

Yer yankin on the wrong chain! :lol:

The front hood release on a 68 is to the left of the steering column under the dash!

It didn't move to the glove box until 69. My guess is that someone put in a 69 or later glove box sometime in the last 35 years.

bwaz · « **Reply #3 on:** November 06, 2005, 10:36:39 PM »

you almost had me going Bruce, no holes or mounts where it would have lived on the drivers side. I ended up having to cut a smaller hole into a larger hole (where the 8 track stereo might have been) and pull on the cable harder. It was loose under the hood and didn't have enough tension to pull it all the way.
thanks
Brian

Bruce · « **Reply #4 on:** November 07, 2005, 12:37:42 AM »

Quote

you almost had me going Bruce, no holes or mounts where it would have lived on the drivers side. I ended up having to cut a smaller hole into a larger hole (where the 8 track stereo might have been) and pull on the cable harder. It was loose under the hood and didn't have enough tension to pull it all the way.
thanks
Brian

I'm not messing with you. A 68 Beetle has the front hood pull exactly where it was on previous years. It only moved to the glove box in 69. Ask Jim Martin, his car is a 68.
Your car may have had a later glovebox and release cable installed. What is the VIN?

Mike Scott · « **Reply #5 on:** November 07, 2005, 07:48:31 AM »

I can confirm Bruce's point. My '68 had the pull lever on the driver's side.

bwaz · « **Reply #6 on:** November 07, 2005, 02:50:17 PM »

I wonder if it's the changeover from old style to new. I know there are lots of instances where something was called the new model year, but they were clearing out whatever they had in stock in the factory and putting parts on the new model from the previous. It got me wondering when the arm in the glovebox was plastic, when I'd only ever seen a metal one. My ser. # is 158470545, no idea yet as to when it was made, waiting for a birth ceritificate to come from Germany. Got any pics of what it looked like on the 68 with a 67 pull? The same as a 67 convert with a lock on it?
Hmmmmm.
thanks again
Brian

bwaz · « **Reply #7 on:** November 07, 2005, 03:32:09 PM »

just found a web site:
http://fly.hiwaay.net/~jfrohwei/vwac/changes.html
that said there's a changeover in late 1968, Front Hood release moved to glove compartment and Gas filler cover has inside release. I Have the late 68 hood release, but no inside release for the gas cover?
Answers that I guess... but the next issue is serial numbers... my 158470545 seems to not match the standard 118 issue, are convertibles diffrerent coming from Karman?
B

Bruce · « **Reply #8 on:** November 08, 2005, 12:37:16 AM »

The 5 in the second position indicates a Beetle convertible. A 4 would be a Ghia. Your serial number indicates it was built mid year. From about 64 to 74, VW made right around a million cars a year. Yours is the 470,545th of the year.

Not all lists you find on the interweb are correct. 68s never had an inside pull for the gas flap. The descrepency on the front hood pull could have something to do with it being a convertible. Converts always had a lockable front hood pull. It is conceiveable that Karmann put the pull inside the locking glove box before Wolfsburg, and that Wolfsburg followed a little later.

John W. Kelly · « **Reply #9 on:** November 21, 2005, 10:16:25 PM »

Bruce, are you sure about 68's not having an inside pull handle for the gas flap? My daily driver does. Maybe a US/Canadian difference? My car was built in late march of 68. I have another 68 here I will check out tomorrow.

Bruce · « **Reply #10 on:** November 22, 2005, 12:49:15 AM »

Yep, the first inside pull for the gas flap was 69. Then in 73 they went back to the outside flap without the cable.

bwaz · « **Reply #11 on:** November 22, 2005, 11:40:02 AM »

Nope, no gas flap pull on mine? But still curious about the pull for the front hood, if the plastic version I have, (rivetted inside to the glovebox) is correct or if it should be the metal variety?
Brian

John W. Kelly · « **Reply #12 on:** November 22, 2005, 11:00:42 PM »

I have six post-67 bugs here. All but one where as Bruce stated...that being the 68 that I drive most. Chassis # is 118731040. Possible repair when the car was very young?

Bruce · « **Reply #13 on:** November 22, 2005, 11:44:41 PM »

Brian, is your glovebox plastic or fine particle board?

dirtydeedss · « **Reply #14 on:** December 30, 2005, 03:12:26 PM »

my brother crashed my 68 through a fence and the hood wouldnt open so i got a pair of vice grips and yanked really hard on the lever thing and it popped open