I was unaware how the locking mechanism worked so just assumed it required some oil / lubrication like WD40. It does amazing at clearing off the old built up crap on the bonnet lock and will help get rid of any build ups before you regrease it.

If I thought my Golf was going to last another 10 years, I would try and fashion a shield at the bottom of the catch body, or just below where it locates. If your bonnet fails to lock down then move the lock mech slightly till the bonnet lug is central over the catch. I guess you mean poke a screwdriver in here and try to somehow lift the "fish-hook" off that is on the bonnet catch? The unit appears to be sealed together so it can't be dismantled, the only thing you can do is clean out the crap and regrease.Most purchases from business sellers are protected by the Consumer Contract Regulations 2013 which give you the right to cancel the purchase within 14 days after the day you receive the item. I would start from the cabin end, have a look at the cable attachment and see if it's broken at that end, if it is use some pliers/build a lever to pull the cable through if not you'll have to start pulling the grill off.

I was able to simulate the locked position by pushing a screw driver down the back of the clip and moving it to the locked position. This included the 10% discount I get on retail parts from VW dealers because I am a member of their free Driver's Club for cars over 3 years old. Extending this hole, allows you to remove the third bolt and, with a little convincing lift of the bonnet, the catch body will completely lift out of its location.

Please remember it can take some time for your bank or credit card company to process and post the refund. Unscrew the three T27 torx bolts holding the bonnet latch mechanism in place noting each bolt's position.

You will need to take a look at it with a flashlight more then likely the latch is rusted and stuck if you lift up the hood just enough to get a screwdriver or a long hook to be able to disengage the latch and you will be able to open it . It was still pretty tight to open with the handle once I fitted the new bracket and used the handle to open the bonent rather than the claw of the hammer. The trademarks "Volkswagen" , "VW" and its logo are registered to Volkswagen Aktiengesellschaft in Germany and Volkswagen Group Limited. Once I had got the bonnet free of the catch body, its a case of releasing the electric cable from its run back towards the drivers headlight. You should now be able to lift the latch mechanism out far enough to allow you to unhook the release cable.If this happens the bonnet can still be opened by unscrewing the bolts holding the latch mechanism in place, lifting the bonnet slightly and poking the exposed latch mechanism with a screwdriver. But today i have tried to open it, the bonnet seems to release as it pops out of the latch in the middle but it is still catching on something and will not open.

As stated, I didn't know where this lever was, so had to remove the catch body completely by removal of the third bolt. It may be that one of the bolts is hidden and you will need to drill a neat and tidy hole through the plastic to get at it. If you can get a screwdriver or whatever in here and pull the lever down towards the bottom of the catch body, this will release the fish-hook and the bonnet will release. To open the bonnet I need one person to press down on the bonnet above the latch while another person pulls the cable.First thing to say (and this is from retrospect, once I eventually got the catch off), it looks like, on my vehicle (Mk5 GT Tdi - 2004 model), there is an "emergency release" tag, sticking through the top slat of the grille, just on the driver's side of the VW badge. Most of our parts are supplied with a minimum 2 year warranty extending up to 4 years for selected brands. After disassembling the handle and bracket and leaving the cable hanging inside the car I was able to open the bonnet using the claw of a hammer to grasp the end of the cable inside the car, it took a good bit of tension while at the same time I had someone press down on the bonnet right above the latch. Ensure that the plastic guide attached to the end of the release cable does not become detached on fitting.