Hood latch is not working.

I did a quick search and found some threads on this subject but none of them helped me. I have resistance when I pull my hood latch release handle under the dash on my 96 Explorer and can see the latch mechanism move behind the grill but the hood does not pop free. I can take a screwdriver and move the latch but I cannot move it anymore than pulling the release handle moves it. I can feel two square nuts on the back of the latch mechanism but they would be a real pain to try and get off. (not much room for a wrench) I sprayed the latch with white lithium grease but that doesn't help at all. Seems to me that something internal to the latch mechanism is broken. Any ideas? I'd sure hate to waste my money taking it to the dealer.

Two thoughts...
Any chance the hood release is working but the hood is kinda stuck...maybe pulling up on it.
The other is maybe look under the dash for the cable and yank it. I know it's just the shielding, but what the heck, it's worth a try.

I did a quick search and found some threads on this subject but none of them helped me. I have resistance when I pull my hood latch release handle under the dash on my 96 Explorer and can see the latch mechanism move behind the grill but the hood does not pop free. I can take a screwdriver and move the latch but I cannot move it anymore than pulling the release handle moves it. I can feel two square nuts on the back of the latch mechanism but they would be a real pain to try and get off. (not much room for a wrench) I sprayed the latch with white lithium grease but that doesn't help at all. Seems to me that something internal to the latch mechanism is broken. Any ideas? I'd sure hate to waste my money taking it to the dealer.

Press down pretty hard on the front lip of the hood and then have someone pull the release handle. Usually takes enough tension off of the latch so it will release.

I was finally able to get it open. While the handle was pulled I had to use a pry bar to get it open. Once open I lubed the latch up with white lithium grease and adjusted the latch slightly to the left so that it wouldn't hold quite as tight, it now is working properly. Thanks for the tips.

That's good news. It's nice that people get find answers here.