Hood stuck in closed position - need help!

[Modern Curmudgeon]

All,

My hood on my '99 is stuck in the closed position. I can pull the release cable, it pulls the normal distance and I can hear clicking up at the latch. When I look at the latch while someone else is pulling the release I see very slight movement but just not enough to kick the latch all the way over.
At this point my release cable is removed from the plastic pull switch on the dash, I am just pulling it manually, it can't possibly go any farther than I am pulling it now. It doesn't seem stretched or broken.

-I've blasted the hell out of the latch area with PB blaster.

-I've tried pushing down on the hood while someone else pulls the release.

-I've tried slight prying at the latch area while releasing.

-I've gone from underneath and behind the bumper. This latch is like fort knox! The cable has a plastic cover over it so I can't just grab it at the latch and pull on it. I don't see what I can do from underneath. or how to remove the grill from here.

-Here is my main concern, I have had the typical issues with the hood latch not fully closing - where you have to push the button down with a flathead to get it to return. I wonder if the last time I did this maybe I pushed too far? Is that even possible?

I am vexed, and I really need to get into my engine bay.....PLEASE HELP.


Oh yeah - I've searched the 3rd gen forum, maybe not well enough but I couldn't find the answer.

Thanks in advance!

 

[jgue467]

Mine gets stuck too

When it does, i just close my fist and hit the area where the lock is and bam it pops up.

But i suspect your's is past that stage so, I would get some needle nose pliers and grab the cable under the dash and pull on it, that should be sufficient to release it. Then adjust that mother so it stops giving you this headache. Luck brother!

 

[lhsoulrebel]

U may be past this point... Push down on the spring under the hood next to the latching mechanism with a flat head screw driver until it releases... My 97 did this... If it works, I recomend replacing the latch.

 

[Modern Curmudgeon]

Push down on the spring under the hood next to the latching mechanism with a flat head screw driver until it releases.

Will try this now thank you!!

 

[lhsoulrebel]

Will try this now thank you!!

How did it go?

 

[Modern Curmudgeon]

Eh, I got it open. I had to take the latch off since I couldn't get at the spring from the outside. Once the latch was off I got access the the cable and pulled on it with some pliers. Opened up, lubricated the crap out of it. It's working fine now. I'm ordering a replacement latch and cable. Thanks for the help!

 

[Sdub8224]

Help...hood cable broken and hood stuck closed '02

We changed out the hood latch as the spring broke. While doing so, accidentally broke the ball off the end of the cable so it won't stay in place. Then...got distracted by our 2 year old and shut the hood without thinking. Now the hood is stuck closed. Any way to get to it manually?

 

[JRZEE2000TR4LTD]

We changed out the hood latch as the spring broke. While doing so, accidentally broke the ball off the end of the cable so it won't stay in place. Then...got distracted by our 2 year old and shut the hood without thinking. Now the hood is stuck closed. Any way to get to it manually?

I assume your grille is off while you were doing all this and is still off so just grab the point, where the cable ball goes, with a pair of pliers and pull in the appropriate direction.