Unfortunately, there is a second failure mode for the latch. Fortunately, its easy to overcome. The receiver part on the hood has what looks like 2 little pins extending across the hole into which the rotating pin on the firewall goes when the hood is closed. The pin thingie can break, bend, etc. and the pin will not rotate enough to release the hood because the pins are broken or misaligned. If the cable is still attached, and no amount of pulling will release the hood, have some one try to bounce the hood up and down by pressing quickly just above the receiver while you pull the cable. Presto...open hood.