Broken latch-Locked out

[Gene-D]

I tried to lift the front hatch on my 96GTI. The plactic lever will not move the wire pin.
I can get a 10 mm wrench into the slot and can remove the spring side.:banghead: I think. It will take awhile at 1/4 turn at a time.
Any other ideas?

 

[Gene-D]

Turning the bolts did not work.
To anyone who has to deal with a plastic lever breaking and not pulling the spring to open the latch... I did slide an allen wrench into the opening and by pulling I got the spring to release the latch.
Now, Why did turning the bolts not work?
The bolts that hold the latch on do not go to hex nuts, they are a round cylinder type nut.
Has anyone had problems getting a latch off? I have turned the bolts 100 times, and the nut things just spin with the bolts.

 

[Bills86e]

opening compartment

Thanks for posting the "did it yourself". Reward yourself with a Cold BUD!:cheers: