How do you open the hood on your 2001 vw passat when the hood release strap is broken?

Answer 1

Pop it with the handle on the drivers side (of course), then stick your hand under the hood the the point the latch hooks the metal loop of the hood (right in the center of the hood), and push the metal latch hooked on the loop of the hood to the right, I believe, could be to the left. It does not slide easily, you will have to push it until you it is not hooked on the metal loop of the hood. You can lift the hood then. The latch system for the hood is very similar to the latch system on the trunk.

You can pull up the hood and see this loop attached to the hood through the few inches of space allowed when the hood is still latched though popped. You can really only feel the latch that catches it. I actually did this today. I had someone hold the hood up as far as it would go then slid my hand in there and felt for the latch (you will need someone with pretty small hands). Let up on the hood a little, push the latch as far as you can which ever way it goes, then pull up on the hood. It works, that's the way I open my hood until I get the replacement part in.