It's a cable going to the latch, Looks like parking brake cables.
Once the hood is released, there's a second latch that has to be moved by hand. Look through the space between the hood and the grille and look for a latch that can be moved. Then lift the hood.
There is a screwdriver slot behind the grill that will operate the hood latch. Look for it on the driver's side.
There is a screwdriver slot behind the grill that will operate the hood latch. Look for it on the driver's side
Use a screwdriver to release the hood latch through the front grille. Take a look at the hood latch on another car to get an idea of how they work.
Roll down the side window and look around the hood.
I have some pictures of of the latch from my van on my website. Check the "Web Links" on the left of this page to see them. Take Care, Greg
The generic answer would be to first take a good look on the hood release mechanism on a similar car. Then get a good flashlight, look through the grille and see if there's a way of accessing the latch from there.
You have to slip in a slimJim and grab the latch hook and pull straight down while putting downward pressure on the hood. If you don't know what a slimJim is look it up. I would also encourage you to lalso ook up the hood latch part for your car so that you can see how the latch hook catches the lower latch cup.
It depends on what is wrong with the cable. When you pull the hood release within the car, is the latch not popping? If you can get the hood up at all, then you should look at the actual latch system where the cable runs, there is a metal clip that holds the cable to the latch. Have another person pull the interior latch release and watch the cable.
Just above the front bumper in the middle and below the grill is a release latch that you can pull. Look in this area and you will see the latch. Once you pull on it lift the hood with your other hand.
To open the hood on a 2001 mercury cougar when the hood latch cable snaps you will need to release the mechanism from the underside. You will need a mechanics prybar and look up from underneath the car, place the screwdriver tip in the release mechanism and turn.
Not sure but you should look up the safety recall on this car because it had a hood latch recall.