So I just recently ( 4 days ago ) traded my eclipse GSX for a 96 2.8 quattro b5, love it btw, only issue is everywhere I go the hood pops up ( not open completely ) and I have to press it back down everywhere time i get out. I read it could possibly be the grille bc it's not factory?? I really have no clue. The latch? Any opinions?

 

Sounds like the latch. See if you can get one from a junkyard maybe..?

 

That or I planned on buying one since they are ~$50 new.. The car does have one of those fake looking kamei grilles thou and I have heard they cause latching issues..

 

heres what it looks like after i go for a drive

 

Not sure what the difference is between '96 and my wife's '99, but I've had minor problems with my latch. Sometimes it is difficult to open, other times it unlatches with a little bump in the road. I've gone through the cable abd the entire latch mechanism, made some adjustments (bent slightly by hand) and refreshed everything. By refreshed, i mean use some solvent, brake cleaning fluid as example to clean the joints of dirt. Then, LUBE the joints. Dont be silly and use WD-40, it's more of a solvent than lube, at a minimum use 30wt motor oil in a fine spout oil can. White lithium greas by Liquid Wrench works great for such as well. So far my latching problems since the refreshing has gone away. It worked for me, hope it works for you too.

 

Could you take a closer-up picture of the latch through the hole in the grille, and maybe one of the latch mechanism with the hood open all the way? That grille is supposed to maintain the stock hood latch function but it sounds like yours is on the fritz.

 

check the rubber bump stops on the front corners of the hood. they might need to be adjusted down a smidge to allow the latch to catch the bolt more fully

 

^^^ What he said. The grill wouldn't really affect it because it uses a the stock latch

 

I have an aftermarket grill and it doesn't connect to the latch at all. Check the cable maybe it doesnt press or release all the way