Driver side hood latch, not latching

[bcolins]

My 2007 3.0i roadster driver side hood latch is not latching. I removed the latch, cleaned it thoroughly and lubricated it and tested it numerous times by pressing into the latch with a Phillips head screwdriver, and it would latch and release every time. I reinstalled the latch and shifted it left and right and would still not latch. I have looked at the metal loop that’s attached to the hood and wondering if it is somehow adjustable. I need it to be at a bit lower position so that it will fully drop into the latch assembly. The hood mounted latch loop does have a Phillips head screw on the inboard side of the plastic mount, but the screw itself is plastic and when I tried to unscrew that the screw immediately began to waller out.

Suggestions?

 

[enuff_zed]

That plastic is only a trim piece. Once it's off you just rotate the metal loop to screw in or out.
However, if this is a recent issue it is unlikely to be that. The dimensions between the lock and the loop cannot just change.
Check the plastic plungers beside the locks. They are designed to push the bonnet up a little when it unlocks. Perhaps the one that side is sticking up?

 

[bcolins]

Thanks,…. i’ll check it out. I bought the car about a month ago and the driver side latch never latched and it appears to have had some paint and bodywork in the front so thinking it’s been this way for a while.

 

[bcolins]

Well,. I tried prying the plastic trim bit away and then saw that it actually was what kept the hood man latch loop fixed in whatever position it was adjusted to. I dropped it a full turn or two close the hood, it latched, and released… Once I closed it again and it latched and now will not unlock on that side. I have tried wedging some soft microfiber towels under the hood in that corner and then pulling on the hood release and it is not unlocking now. I’ll try with a neighbor pulling on the release while I press down and lift up on the hood, but I am not encouraged by the way it feels,… That it will release.