I can't open the hood of my 97 chevy lumina?

HELLO Robert Saucier,

If during the last 20 years the cable casing
(I've never... ever seen it) has somehow rusted or collapsed on itself... that will change the ratio ... and essentially be pulling a loose wire against its own slack.

I know replacement cables are available...
but I've only ever had the cable itself break... or... it was simply missing...

I had ABSOLUTELY NO PROBLEM finding lots of
references to these parts... so...

I'm assuming you are having a COMMON PROBLEM.

POPULAR parts usually mean TROUBLE.

https://www.bing.com/search?q=97+mounaineer+hood+cable+replacement+rock+auto&form=EDGNTC&qs=PF&cvid=9ab9f36d55f5430fadb39197b60b769e&pq=97+mounaineer+hood+cable+replacement+rock+auto&PC=DCTE

If steam is blowing out when the heat is on, the heater core is leaking into the car. If water drenches the floor after running a lot on a humid day, the condensate drain tube is plugged. It is a rubber tube flattened on one end connected to the air box half mounted on the firewall under the hood. Check the coolant level in the radiator to make sure it is at the correct level. If it's not, then suspect a leaking heater core.

have you disconected or changed the battery lately- the idle needs to be reset.
my 89 regal had to be started cold -put in drive with your foot on the brake - then wait untill radiator fan turns on (open the hood first to be able to hear the electric fan kick on :)
this somehow set the warm idle speed and the problem was gone :)

is it attached to the hood latch on the inside of the van if so it may be the latch under the hood if its not attched on the inside attach it to the hood latch puller

If you can get under the van and using a flash light look up to the bottom side of the hood. You will see a lever hooked into a rectangular loop. take a pair of plyers and pull on the wire to open or take a piece of round metal and have someone puch down on hood and you can push the hook for the hood

I had same problem . There is a vacuum resovoir tank located behind the left front splash shield . The vacuum line behind the battery goes to it . I removed two 5/32 screws just in front of the tire that hold the splash shield to the fender , carefully flex the shield away from the fender and take a look . I found the vacuum line had come loose , plugged it back on and everything works . Hope this helps

It will probably be sticking throttle linkage, or a faulty idle control sensor.

YOU CAN FIX IT EASILY AT HOME IF IT IS JUST THE HANDLE. THE CABLE WOULD REQUIRE ABOUT 1-1.5 HOURS LABOR TO REPLACE SO DONT PAY MORE THAN THAT.

. If you are in the car driving and smell fuel, chances are the leak in FRONT of you under the hood, probably being drawn in, by the heater or a/c. Open the hood and look for WETNESS. Don't see or smell it. Get UNDER the car ( safely ). Look around at the fuel lines. You'll find if you look. Hope this helps

The whole mechanism is run by two cables. The first from the hood release latch to the left side hood catch. The second from the left hood catch to the right one.
First look and see if the second cable is disconnected from the left hood catch. if it is just pull it and the right should open. If not...
Have somebody with skinny arms to reach up from under the car and manually pull the lever on the right hood catch.
Hope this helps...