hood latch

i got a new hood yesterday but i didnt get a new latch, then i got the crossmember that the loop is on for the latch to hit, so i took the latch off my old hood and put it on my new hood, and for some reason the latch wont latch, it seems like the spring isnt going down all the way, is there anyway to fix that or do i need a whole new latch?? thanks for any help!

On the hood, look inside the spring and you should see a nut, 10 or 12mm I forget, loosen it. The end of the latch spring retainter will be slotted, you can then loosen to lower the latch until it starts to catch. I hope this makes sense. I've changed my hood and reused the same latch and it didn't latch all the way.

I kinda get it but i kinda dont, i Know the little thing has a slot on it to catch the latch, but where is the bolt? do i have to lift up the spring to get it or what?

The thing with the slot is threaded where the spring sits. The nut is at the base of the assembly closest to the hood, you'll have to wiggle the wrench between the rings or lift the spring to get the wrench in. I didn't see the nut at first either, it's there just might be dirty and grimey like mine was.