Chrysler Repair: hood latch spring mechanism, hood latch, dodge caravan

Question
QUESTION: i opened my  hood cable and i think the spring came off i can not close the hood with out using a strap to hold it down i need to drive this vechicle the latch will not close on pin to lock it down any suggestions.

ANSWER: Hi Carol,
I need to know the year/make/model to be specific, but in general you might want to get a used latch at a wrecking yard and simply replace the old one at a very nomimal coat. A pull-it-yourself type of yard will let you "practice" on another car to see how it is removed and will also cost less that way. It is usually simply held in place by several screws and it attaches to a cable/housing that mates with it that is atttached at the other end to the handle in the cabin. There is usually one or two springs in the latch that operate the slider that secures the 'knob' on the underside of the hood, and if you find pieces of the broken spring you can probably get a replacement at a hardware store. But you will need to remove the latch mechanism to get at it to see what is there and what needs replacement. Which is what you also will have to do if you get a used one from a wrecking yard.
It could be worse! Often the end of the release cable breaks instead and then you have get under the car to release the hood latch.
Roland
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---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: the make is a 94 dodge caravan i looked at the unit and it does not have an easy acccess. I am using a cloth rachet strap to hold down as im driving to minimal places.  Help

Answer
Hi Carol,
I can xerox copy and postal mail you 4 pages from the manual which show the steps involved in removing grille and a panel just above the grille which will reveal the latch mechanism for repair/replacement. Just tell me an address using a 'private' follow-up.
Roland
Please 'rate' my answer.