Chrysler Repair: 1993 dodge shadow es 3.0 v6 auto trans, hood latch, safety hook

Question
Hi Mr. Finston - Please help me- my 1993 dodge shadow the hood don't close anymore and the cable is not tight looklike it's loosing somewhere . I turned the hood latch from inside the car but it doesn't work . Thank you

Sonny

Answer
Hi Sonny,
The cable from the handle in the cabin to the latch mechanism at the front of the hood has detached or broken somewhere, probably at one end or the other. The way to get it to open is to slide under the front of the car on the ground (or securely jack up the front wheels and put the car on jack stands or drive the car onto a pair of ramps) and using a flashlight or troublelight locate the latch mechanism overhead. Then you will see the cable housing that runs to the lever located in the center of the Front side of the latch mechanism which will release the latch if you push it toward the driver's side of the car. That is what the cable is normally attached to and what it does, it pulls the lever toward that side of the car and that releases the hood latch so the hood pops open. The latch is designed so that you can open it from underneath the car. You may need a long screwdriver and some muscle to move the lever but that is what will open it. I have the manual that shows how to replace the cable so let me know you postal mailing address and I'll xerox copy and mail you the pages tomorrow. In the meantime you should be able to open the hood and let it stay ajar with the safety hook retaining it in place. Use the "rate the expert" tab to get back to me where you will find a place for comments to list your address.
Best of luck and have a good holiday.
Roland