Working on a 97 DI:

I have replaced the entire hood latch cable and am having a great deal of difficulty trying to find that "sweet spot" where pulling on the cable will release the striker pin (the part with the spring around it). I even removed the striker pin to attempt adjusting it on the inside of the hood because it looked like it has been removed before...

any advice?

 

Did you grease the latch assembly? I don't think there is an adjustment for the hood release cable.

 

I sure did Mike. You know me enough to know I wouldn't leave that step out. It is lubed, greased and all oiled up! I think I am having an issue with how far the cable come through the part that anchors it down....

 

Pretty sure it's just trail and error until you find the right spot. I still need to replace my hood release cable but too lazy. If it ain't really broke, don't fix it.

 

I AM fearing it is trial and error too. Damn. Oh well. I would have left it alone but the customer wanted it replaced as the old method of opening the hood was using pliers on the NON existing handle on the cable....

 

I took my latch apart a few months ago and cleaned and lubed it. If I remember correctly I had to push the latch toward the passenger side as I tightned the bolts. It was difficult to push with one hand and tighten with the other as their is tension on the cable when pushing over. It took a few times to get it right and now the pull handle is easy and the hood pops up.