recently purchased a 97 explorer and hood wont open.
the cable housing is not seated properly under the hood. tried pulling as hard as i can directly on cable housing and also on cable itself with visegrips while pounding on hood (there is a dent right there...apparently a pre existing condition) NO LUCK!
mechanism is pretty well shrouded off....any sugestions?

 

Try to spray WD40 in and around that spot. My hood started to do that but I caught it just in time. All it needed was some oil and it works just fine now.

Lots and lots of WD 40!

John