I recently took off the dash just below the steering wheel and I think that I might have created some slack in the hood release cable. When I move the cable in an out from inside the cab, It sounds like it is slipping out of the actual mechanism that locks the hood down.

I can't do anything for opening my hood. How can I activate the hood release if the cable has slipped out of it? I can't work on the release if I can't even get to it.

Does anybody else have experience fixing a broken hood latch?

I figured it out. There are three black bolts on the hood latch, as shown in this pdf:

http://www.deserted1.com/FSM/Repair_Manual...o/hood/adju.pdf

The third one below might have a security bolt (an attachment goes over the head of the bolt, preventing access to the head) that is near impossible to remove. I ended up having to drive it out painstakingly using pliers to grip the treads from below. You also have the option of drilling through the cover if you wish. All three bolts are 10mm.

The end of the release cable had slipped lose from the cable sheath and I just had to crimp it back on.

I hope this saves somebody else from the unnecessary effort I went through.

Very helpful, thanks!

I have a 2002 tacoma same problem with the hood latch, I have to pull it up with my fingers. i will try the method that has been posted here.Thanks.
By the way I get a strange low vibration noise at about 26mph while in drive.take it out of drive into neutral and same noise.new tires. rotatated them etc. been doing this from early on and dealer was zero help, they aligned it and i had to bring it back 3 times because it was pulling wicked to the right. Dealer finally got it right but noise still there. Anyone else experience this noise at 26 mph? thanks.

Hi, I can't open the link. I'm having the same problem with my 2003 Tacoma and my battery is dead so I have no way of jumping it. Your help is greatly appreciated!

can you help? I unscrewed the two top and the very bottom 10mm bolts, but there is one bolt in the middle that seems to be the "security" bolt. I'm still working on that one. So if that last bolt is unscrewed, then I should be able to lift the whole hood up? I shook the hood around and it doesn't seem that last bolt is holding it down. I can't see what is.
The PDF file can't be opened. Any help will do.
Thanks