Trunk Lid - High Closing Effort or Dificult to Open

Group: 55

Number: 99-01

Date: Sept. 17, 1999

Subject:
Trunk Lid, High Closing Effort or Difficult to Open

Model(s):
New Beetle 1998 -> 2000

Condition

^ High effort required to close trunk lid.

^ Trunk lid will not consistently open past second catch.

Service

For vehicles with high effort required to open trunk lid:





- Carefully inspect trunk lid lock for any damage (lock may be damaged from misalignment).





- Carefully inspect trunk lid striker for any damage (striker may be damaged from misalignment).





- Check for proper trunk lid alignment.

^ Upper edge to roof gap should be uniform.

^ Lid should be 1 mm - 2 mm lower than roof.





Lid adjusted too low will result in too much seal compression in area shown by arrows, which increases closing effort.





- Inspect left and right edges of lid to C-pillar to ensure they are uniform from top to bottom.

Adjustment:





- Open trunk lid and lower left and right stops (arrow).





- Adjust striker to center of height range.





- Loosen lid hinge fasteners (arrows) and adjust lid to 1 mm to 2mm below roof edge see illustration page 2.

CAUTION!
Factory installed fasteners are difficult to loosen without stripping and if damaged, cannot be reused.

Once adjustments are completed, check to ensure that trunk lid operation and closing effort is corrected.





- Fine-tune closing effort by moving striker in 2 mm increments.





- Finally, raise the left and right stops to fine-tune the lid height alignment.

For vehicles where trunk lid does not open reliably past the second catch and closing effort is NOT a problem.

- Inspect all system components for damage.

- Verify that electrical and mechanical lid lock release components operate properly.





- Clean the lid-to-seal painted surface.





- Clean the lid seal.

- Apply silicon lubricant to seal and painted surface.

Adjustment:

If trunk lid is still not opening properly:





- Raise left and right stops in 2 mm increments until lid opens reliably.

If the problem continues:





- Lower the striker in 2 mm increments until problem is corrected.

- Verify that closing effort has not been affected.

When procedure applies to vehicles within the New Vehicle Limited Warranty, use the following:

Part Identifier: 5559

Labor Operation: 5559511 50TU