So the other day I had trouble closing my hood. I was in a rush so I kept slamming it until it closed. Yesterday I popped the hood and noticed that I didn't need to actuate the secondary / backup latch to open it. Turns out the hook mount came loose, and when I went to close it forcefully, it bent the hook all the way backwards. So, I bent it back to where it would engage in the slot, but I guess I didn't bend it enough because now I can't get enough motion out of it to unlatch the hood. Today I'm going to go at it with a variety of tools to get it open, but I was wondering if any of you have run into this and have a good way to adjust it? Or if you have any pictures of it from the side so I know how much to bend it?

Thanks for any help!

 

Yikes. I don't know how mad you were to bend the latch but that takes some effort. Only way I can think of is rip off the grille to maybe gain access. Then you can unbolt the latch and start over with new parts.

 

What year is your truck? There was a recall on the hood latch.

http://dodgeram.info/tsb/recalls/973.htm

 

Pop it from inside the truck then bend the end of a coat hanger into a hook and go through the grille and pull it forward to open it.

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Go up from the bottom with a coat hanger while someone is standing up top trying to open it.