some advice..please?

Hello, I bought my first car three days ago. a '98 civic 4dr sedan. I bought from a dealership as is.....(maybe this was a mistake....) I took it to a mechanic and paid 70 bucks for him to look it over..he said it was fine .

anyway I'm on way to work tonite and it won't start...it won't even make that chugging sound like it's trying to start...no noise whatsoever. the lights and horn sound okay so I don't think the battery's dead.

to make matters worse. I can't get the hood open to check the battery terminals...(let's hope they're just loose or something...) apparently the latch has broken, becuase it's Missing....I don't know how this went overlooked, all there is in it's place is a thin metal rod. I tried pulling it with pliers and it gave about a half an inch, but it still didn't pop.....

A friend suggested purchasing a vise grip for that job.....any info is appreciated.

sorry to hear about your first experiance being a bad one.

the hoiod latch should be right in fron of your door near your feet. the plastic peace may have broke off, it did in my car. just pop off the plastic peace that was the indent and a whole in it, this is wear it should be. i can pup the hood with my hands but if they are slipperry i would use a pair of pliers.

from thier chech the battery, pluggs and wires

"....just pop off the plastic peace that was the indent and a whole in it, this is wear it should be. i can pup the hood with my hands but if they are slipperry i would use a pair of pliers."

Can you be a little more clear, I tried pulling it out with pliers but the hood still won't open...