2000 Taurus Sedan Hood Release Issue

I'm trying to pop my hood to do some regular checks -- top up wiper fluid, check oil ect. But I can't get it to open. I've pulled the release on the drivers side, and I've tried to release the latch inside. However, when I pull the release, there's no give. Meaning there's no pop or sound. I also can't seem to touch the release through the grill. Am I supposed to remove the grill? I've tried to do this by pulling the grill up, and then down again, but it won't budge.

I have the odd suspicion that the opening mechanisim is jammed, but I want to make sure I've tried everything before wasting a mechanics time :biggrin:

Make sure the kick panel that the hood release handle comes out of isn't moving when you pull the handle. Sometimes the mounts for that plastic panel will snap and the panel moves with the handle being pulled, thus not allowing enough cable movement to release the hood. If that appears to be fine, get another person to help you. One of you pull the handle while the other pushes down slightly on the front of the hood to help the catch release.
My car got into an accident and the nose is slightly pushed back. I pull my hood release and hear the click of the catch letting go, but the hood stays down. I have to stick a finger between the edge of the hood and the headlight to give it an extra lift to start it to open. My son's car had the cable break at the catch and it was near impossible to get an arm in high enough from underneath with a screwdriver to get it unlatched. If you don't know exactly where the latch is, how it works and what you need to do without seeing it, you better get someone else who does to help. Or find someone with the same car and ask if you can look at theirs to see how yours works.

does the hood release pull really easy? if so, the cable could have broken out of it. now i just have the cable there and i pull it. try needle nose pliers on the cable and pull it hard.. just dont rip the cable up by doing it too many times.