How to Open the Hood of a Volvo V40?
3 Answers
The method to open the hood of a Volvo V40 is: locate the black handle near the driver's left foot, which is the hood release lever. Pull the hood release handle until you hear a click, then move to the front of the car and lift the latch under the inner side of the hood to open it. Note that when inspecting the engine compartment, it is safer to wait until the engine temperature has cooled down. In terms of body dimensions, the Volvo V40 measures 4369 mm in length, 1802 mm in width, and 1445 mm in height, with a wheelbase of 2647 mm.
I've been driving this V40 for three years, and opening the hood is actually quite simple. Sit in the driver's seat, look down near your left foot, and you'll see a handle with an engine icon. Give it a firm pull and you'll hear a 'click' sound. Then, walk to the front of the car, where there's a gap in the middle of the hood. Reach in and feel for a yellow plastic lever. This is called the secondary safety lock. Push it all the way to the right while lifting the hood with your other hand. At this point, the hood will pop up halfway, and you can then fully lift it by hand. Important reminder: the support rod is located near the left headlight housing—remember to pull it out and secure it properly. When closing, be careful with your fingers—first retract the support rod and then gently lower the hood. When I first bought the car, I couldn't find that yellow lever, but later I discovered that reaching slightly to the right makes it easier to locate. The hood is quite heavy, so women may want to use both hands.
Previously helped a friend fix their V40, opening the hood is a two-step process. First, the interior part: Near the driver's seat, against the door's plastic panel, there's a hidden black handle with a small car icon engraved on it. You need to pull this handle firmly as it's connected to the hood's primary lock. After pulling, the hood will pop open slightly. Then, move to the exterior operation: Don't force the hood open from the gap; instead, reach about fifteen centimeters into the gap to feel a horizontal metal plate. Push it to the right with your thumb until you hear a second 'click,' indicating the safety lock is released. Be careful not to scratch the paint when lifting the hood, and remember to secure the support rod afterward. For older cars, this metal plate might be rusty and hard to push—regularly spraying WD-40 rust remover helps. If the hood isn't closed properly, a warning light will appear on the dashboard, so keep an eye out for that.
