I think the hood latch cable on my 2001 Pathfinder SE is broken. When I pulled the inside release handle, it was real easy and now does not return to the proper position. How do I open the hood to get at the latch?

Sometimes not easy... Is cable broke at inside handle or at latch under hood? If you can get hold of broken cable inside with some pliers, just pull cable. That usually works. But not sure where your break is. Getting to latch to release is what can be difficult. Also having an extra hand (someone out side tapping on hood or pulling up slightly) while tring to pull cable with pliers

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theres a wire inside the cable--try to get at it somehow and pull with vise grips

you can use needle nose pliers pull the hood release cable on inside car where cable broke from handle.needle nose pliers will help you enough to pull cable to open hood so you can replace fix hood release handle and cable.

Hi
Tricky one this.
If you cant reach up from underneath and, using a screwdriver, flick the catch you will probably have to try and remove the grille.
You will probably snap part of the grille so be carefull not to cause too much damage.
With the grill away you will have access to the bonnet catch.
I assume the cable clamp has come loose for some reason which has caused the outer cover to move with the cable.
Fit a ne clamp screw and clip.
Roger

The hood release cable seems to be malfunctioning on my 2001 Pathfinder SE. The inside release handle pulls without much restance and does not return to it's proper position. The hood does not unlatch. It seems that the cable is broken. How do I open the hood?

first, try smacking the hood at one of the front corners while someone else pulls the release handle. or even after you've pulled on it. if that works, once open, adjust and lubricate the hood latch assembly. if it still won't open, and it's the cable and not the latch you'll have to replace it anyway, so instead of removing the grill, cut the cable behind the pull lever under the dash where you can reach it. then skin the outer cable insulation away from the actual steel cable exposing an inch or two of it. then holding the insulation and plastic housing with pliers, grab the steel cable itself with pliers and pull it to open the hood. then replace the cable. the further you can reach up under the panel the better your chances of getting past the broken part of the cable and avoid removing the grill. you might also be able to gain access from up under the car if you're lucky.

if you pried the hood up enough to see the latch then you should be able to reach the cable with a pair of pliers or vise grips, or you could see if you can reach the bolts holding the hood latch and remove it.

you may want to check where the cable attaches to the handle inside the vehicle and see if it is still connected.perhaps the release handle is broken and you might be able to pull the release cable with pliers.

good luck and I hope this helps.

check behind handle to ensure cable end is still connected to handle if broken away you may be able to use pliers to pull on cable to get hood open

if the cable is not broken then pull the release then take the side of your fist and pound on the hood starting towards the top drivers side and slowly move towards the latch try it a few times i have to do this every single time on my blazer

Is there any part of the cable inside the cabin that you can pull with a pair of pliers? I suggest that you try that. You may need to disassemble it from the pull handle to make that work.