Need Some Help Opening My Hood

[Araboy]

I'm hoping someone can help me fix this myself... I have a 2015 Ford Fusion SE 1.5L with Ecoboost. The hood release mounting bracket broke so I bought a genuine replacement. It broke on the first pull after I installed it. The hood/cables were too tight for the plastic part to handle.

Since then, I was able to release the hood by pulling the cable with vice grips. I took time to check the adjustments and lube both hood catch mechanisms.

Today, I lubed them again and was working in the lubrication. I had disconnected the cables from the plastic box that connects the two front releases to the cable inside the car so that I could release them from the front of the car. Once I was satisfied that they were moving well, I closed the hood.

At that point I realized that I didn't reconnect the cables and put them back inside the plastic box. Now the hood release cable inside the car does nothing and I can't open the hood at all.

It doesn't appear that the cables are accessible through the grill or from under the car. Ford really has everything packed in there. Does anyone know how to open the hood now?

[Araboy]

Just as a follow-up to my original post, it can be done without damaging the car. First, the covers under the car need to be removed. Second, remove fasteners that hold the outsides of the front bumper (including fasteners in the front wheel wells). Once the outsides of the bumper are loose, the hood release mechanisms can be accessed by reaching up from the bottom of the car.

I have since worked additional lubrication into the mechanisms, replaced the second broke hood release mounting bracket, and have had no problems since.

[drolds1]

Good to hear that you sorted it out. Thanks for the update.