The hood release not working - 1998 Jeep Cherokee 4WD

To open the hood of a 2004 Chrysler Pacifica with a dead battery, try these steps:
Find hood release lever: Usually located on left side of driver's footwell near the hood release cable.
Jump-start battery: Connect battery to another car's battery if it's completely dead. This will provide enough power to release the hood latch.
Use manual release: If jump-starting is not possible, consult owner's manual for manual release location.
Get help: If unsuccessful, call for help from a tow truck or mechanic.
Caution: Make sure the car is in park, emergency brake is engaged and engine is off before opening the hood.

Pull the release and have someone hit the hood with there hand in the middle of the hood, by the latch/front. Then adjust the latch upwards. If the cable is broke then go from the bottom and push the release left or right to release. Follow the cable.

Might just be stuck. Have someone pull the release as you FIRMLY pound on the front of the hood in the middle with your fist (NOT A HAMMER ! ! ! !).

If that works and it opens, get some WD40 and spray the latch and cable, lever, etc... and then work the release lever before closing it again. If the cable has broken....... it is very difficult to release without some automotive knowledge. I'm betting it is just stuck...


Good Luck.

try this,have another person push down on the hood in the front of your truck,while they apply downward pressure,pull hood release out,keep the hood release pressure pulled out,tell the other person to let up on hood,then release the pressure you have on the hood release handle and hood should pop up.if this does'nt work,you have a broken hood release cable.that means you'll have to get on the ground under front of truck and reach up to the hood release cable with pliers and pull the cable release manually.good luck hope this helps and thank you for choosing fixya.com

If it is not popping up at all, have someone "Thump" on the front of the hood with their hand while you pull the hood release cable. This will usually get it to pop up. Yes there is a secondary release. All hoods have secondary releases you can reach up under the hood to get to it once the hood has popped up from the first release.
Once you get the hood open, spray the latch mechanism with silicone lubricant to make it easier the next time.

If it feels like the cable is attached when you pull the hood release try having someone push down on the front of the hood near the latch. Once the release is pulled out have the person relieve pressure from the hood once you let go of the release. This works for most stuck hood situations. If that doesn't work try having some one pull up on the hood while the release is pulled. This works when the spring has weakened. Once the hood is opened clean and lubricate the latch assembly to prevent further trouble.

I would have someone hold the hood release latch while bumping the front of the hood to try to bump the hood loose. Once opened, be sure to lubricate the hood latch under the hood and also lubericate the safety latch as well to prevent this in the future. Use white lithium grease to lube all latches. Be sure to work the latch a couple dozen times after lubricating a few times before closing the hood to ensure it is working properly.

Try pulling on the hood release, while someone else lifts the hood. If this doesn't work. You can access the underside of the hood release by taking the front grille out. If you look closely you'll see the retainer screws that can be removed from the front. Once the grille is out or loosened enougt to get your hand in behind, you can release the hood latch from the underside with a screwdriver and then repair the hood latch after you've opened it.

If you can access the cable take a pair of vise grips and simply pull it like you would the hood release handle

One of the 2 cables on my hood release is loose. One works fine and releases (dirver's side) but the other is loose and does not. I cannot get my hood up. I have a 1998 Jaguar XJ8
Thank you ....