I searched and am still stumped. I pulled the plastic trim out from around the cable handle, and tried prying the cable and that didn't work. I was able to get my hand far enough in the grill to pull on the latch end of the cable, and it's safe to say the cable itself is fine. The hood is aligned perfectly with both fenders, but one side is about 1/8" higher than the other. The front, claw part of the latch that I assume turns 90 degrees is facing straight up, and is not holding the hood down. I've tried putting a 12" extension up against where the U shaped hood piece mets the latch and hammering it loose and still nothing. Push/pulled the hood til the car moved an inch up and down, still nothing. ???

 

Maybe try grabbing the end of the cable, as it comes in contact with the latch assembly, through the front grille, with a long needle nose pliers
and pull it 'away' quickly, that will pop the latch??

https://www.oemacuraparts.com/v-2003...itioning--hood

 

I'll try, but the cable seemed pretty firm, like pulling with pliers would just pull back the sheath, but I will try carefully.

 

There is a 'C' shaped cable 'stay' that is molded into the metal of the latch assembly.
1) Grab the end of the cable, as it comes in contact with the latch assembly, 2) push forward toward the car to push the cable through the opening of the 'C'. Once you have the cable free from the cable 'stay' at the latch assembly, 3) grasp it and pull it straight to the passenger side of the car. That would be the direction the cable moves, inside the cable sheath, when it normally operates as the lever is pulled in the car. Hopefully that will 'pop the latch'.