2002 Es 300 Hood

[noyes]

I suspect that the cable releasing the hood lock has snapped.

What options are available to open the hood.

[gbhrps]

You have your work cut out for you.

Hopefully the cable snapped under the dash at the handle for unlatching the hood. If that's the case, you should be able to pull the cable down so that you can grip the outer casing with some pliers, while you pull on the inner cable to unlatch the hood.

If the problem isn't there, then you're going to need to get the car in the air. It may be possible to get a 10 mm socket through the grill to undo the hood latch itself and then get some room to get at the unlatch cable on the latch's right side (as viewed from the front of the car). Unfortunately, you'll most likely scar up some of the grill doing this.

The only other method may be to remove the under engine plastic shield. With that out of the way, it may be possible to get at the cable as it leaves the left front fender at the top and goes under the top of the radiator saddle towards the front latch. Cutting the cable here should allow pulling on the inner cable to open the latch.

If this all seems too daunting, take it to a service tech, as your will not be the first to have broken. Good Luck!