Hood latch stuck shut

So I dragged my new to me 2002 Tacoma home today with my 4Runner and a couple buddies. The battery is dead and would not take a charge so it was slow going, luckily not too far. Enough about that.

The hood now will not open. The cab lever stayed out as if the cable was jammed with no hood pop. I then proceeded to cut the cable behind the grill figuring I could pop the hood by pulling on the inner cable. No dice. Probably bad idea but my expert neighbour insisted.

I've searched this issue and tried banging the hood and poking around etc I can't get it open. Can I take the latch mechanism off somehow? Is there any way to get the hood open?

Thanks in advance.

 

Had a cable break on an old Accord once ('87?) Took me a while to remove part of the grille, drill a couple holes and fashion a tool to move the latch.

Any way you can come up from under the bumper?

And your genius neighbor should be ignored for future rescue work.

 

I've been trying to pry the latch open from under the bumper but there's no way to reach the back of the latch with enough force to unhook it that I've found. Real PITA.

 

remove the grille first then you can access things in there. if all else fails unbolt the center support bracket with the latch mechanism. might be tight working but you should be able to reach all the bolts for it.

this video makes no sense at all but it does show the two bolts at the top you need to remove (after removing the grille) that hold the latch and the center support onto the radiator core support
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MESXtTwvQ2c

 

Okay thanks those are the bolts I was eyeing up. Can I get the grill off without the hood open? If not will the latch move with those bolts off or is there more? Thanks again.

 

yes the 01-04 grilles just snap off, not sure about the earlier trucks thou

there is a tab in there you push up or down (cant remember if they all go the same direction) to release the snap lock, then the grille comes loose. the last two at the bottom on each side with the long arms (you will see what I mean) you just have to pull hard until it unsnaps but be careful its all loose so you don't break anything, play with the top ones first and you will see how it works, its a "tee" shapped plastic tab that you push down until it slips into a slot groove to release it. when you put it back on it all snaps back and locks in place, so you only need to push the tabs to release it