Opening the hood of a Volvo S60 to access the engine compartment requires pulling a small switch lever located on the driver’s side, underneath the dashboard and to the left of the brake pedal. After this, you need to release the catch to lift the hood.

It’s pretty likely that you’re going to have to pop open the hood of your Volvo S60 sedan at some point, whether you’re checking your coolant level or performing an

oil and filter change

. Even if maintenance isn't a habit, something a bit more trivial, like adding windshield washer fluid, will mean you’ll have to open the hood.

The point is that opening the hood might be something you’d like to know how to do—and it isn’t always obvious. This guide has that covered. Read on to find out how to find the hood release in your Volvo S60, how to use it, and what to do if it doesn’t work.

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Where is the hood release on a Volvo S60?

To find the hood release for your Volvo S60, look beneath the dashboard on the driver’s side of the passenger compartment. In newer models, you should be able to see a handle or switch with the outline of a car with an open hood, right to the left and above where the brake pedal is.

Pulling this handle will release the hood, but you’ll notice your hood’s not fully up yet. That’s because there’s a secondary handle you need to pull to fully open the hood. You can find it by feeling around under the top of the hood. Releasing this handle will let you lift open your Volvo’s hood.

How to open the hood on a Volvo S60

Once you’ve found the hood release lever, you’re now able to

open the hood of your car

. Follow these easy steps:

Pull the first handle to the left of the brake pedal to release the hood from its fully closed position. You should hear a noise as the hood is released.

Swipe your hand from left to right under the part of the hood you can access until you feel another handle—-this is the secondary hood release catch.

Pull the catch and move it up and to the side to lift the hood.

You should now be able to open the hood. Lift it up fully and use the support strut to prop it open while you do your work.

That’s it! You should now be able to do whatever work you need to do.

To close the hood, press down on it until it begins to close under its own weight, and once it reaches the catch, press down on it more to close it completely. Do not drive with an open hood—there will be a warning indicator light if you haven’t been able to get it closed properly.

What if the hood release latch doesn’t work?

If your hood doesn’t pop when you pull the initial release latch, you may have a problem with the release system—either with the hood release cable or the latch itself. Unfortunately, there’s little the regular consumer can do if they want to get into the hood of their car at this point—short of a repair that is.

Your best bet would be to get to the secondary catch directly, but this may require taking out the front grille which is a technical exercise best left to a professional. Some S60 models also release separately from the passenger and driver side, so even if you were able to get one side to open, you might not be so lucky with the other.

MORE: Volvo S60 towing capacity

How to repair the Volvo S60 hood release

Your best bet would be to drive the vehicle to a mechanic or get roadside assistance if you’re unable to drive. Doing the repair yourself is probably going to be too difficult—unless you’re a seasoned mechanic, and sourcing the parts may be an issue as well.

Replacement costs are going to vary depending on the component. For a

hood latch replacement

, typical costs range from $210 to $240, though this may change based on where you live. A new hood release cable would be similar, between $230 and $270. This is based on a 2021 Volvo S60.

Of course, you can always check to see if your vehicle’s warranty may cover a repair. If the latch was damaged in an accident, sometimes

collision coverage

can work in your favor as well.

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