The spring seems fine, and the latch (to the left of the spring) looks okay (not broken). But the hood won't close all the way -- that is, it won't engage on that final push once it's latched but still open a bit so you can reach under and grab the latch. I WD40'd everything, but no dice.


I wonder if the problem has something to do with the cable. I don't know how the cable interfaces with the spring, and I can't see how to inspect that visually.

 

the latch should be lubed with heavy grease, not weasel **** -err- WD40.

have someone pull and release the hood cable under the dash, while you watch the latch mechanism, is the 'blade' moving in/out when they do that? on the underside of the hood, there's a threaded rod with a cone shaped end that fits into the latch, that blade catches on the top of the cone... I think it has a lock nut, try loosening the lock nut, and unscrewing the cone a turn or two so its farther out from the hood, then tighten the lock nut. brush grease all over this cone (or I use white lithium spray grease on it).

you might remove the grill before you do this, as if you end up with the hood stuck down due to latch failure, its a lot easier to open without the plastic grill in place.

 

btw, you should slam the hood, not press down on it. I generally drop it from a foot or two high. pressing down on it can deform it.

also check the two rubber stoppers on either side, maybe screw them in another turn or two so they don't stick out as far, this allows the hood to go lower. when everything is working right, you adjust the rubber stoppers so the hood is flush with the fenders when its down, and you adjust the cone so its smugly latched with no play.

 

Thanks, Pierce.

Okay, I figured out the problem with your help. The cable handle (inside the car, below the dash) isn't retracting after I pull on it. So now I have to actually push it forward (I hear a kind of ratchety sound when I do), and then I can close the hood all the way.

Above the grill, in the round hole where the cone-shaped rod goes down a crescent-shaped "blade" you referred to juts out to catch the rod and hence lock the hood all the way closed. That blade isn't jutting into the hole's space like it's supposed to unless I now push the cable handle forward. I wonder if the cable is about to simply break, or whether this is just the new normal.

 

the cable itself probably needs greasing. not sure the best way to do this. the springs might be weak, too.

 

I have the same problem with the release not pulling back in. I've just been pushing it back in and probably won't bother with it for now, but I'm concerned it may seize up at some point if I don't address it.