Hood release cable 97 Escort

[shutupndrive]

I can't believe that I'm the first that this has happened to. I opened my hood and now it won't close. It could be worse ...Not being able to open it. The hood release cable is frayed under the dash. My question is ...How do I replace the cable? I can't find anything about this on the internet. Anybody??

[shutupndrive]

Ok ...Well I guess I will answer my own questions then.. Just in case somebody else is cursed with this ailment. Of course the replacement cable is a dealer item. It set me back $35 plus tax.
I started out by removing the latch assembly , 4 bolts total. I removed a clip from behind the assembly and removed the end of the cable from it. Then i began fishing the cable through the core support as it turned toward the firewall it is ran through the fender. The next step involves raising the car up and removing the left front wheel. Now it's time to remove the splash guard , starting at the rear . Some of it is held on by 8mm sheet metal screws and the rest are those plastic push pins, which you will probably break a few of. You only need to remove the rear half, to gain access to the cable. Looking towards the firewall you will see a large Wire Loom going through . The cable enters right above that wire loom. After you have released the cable from all of the cable ties along the fender and core support you are almost ready to push it through to the inside of the car. Now you are ready to remove the cable/handle assembly from underneath the dashboard. Behind the dash the cable is held on by a 17mm nut . Remove it and you can pull the old cable all the way out.

Now to install.. I threaded a length of stiff wire through the firewall from the outside to the inside under the dash. I then tied on the new cable to that piece of wire and pulled it through. Then I simply routed the new cable the same way the old one ran and connected it to the latch assembly(lubricating it thoroughly first). A good bit of advice is to install the latch in the same position as it was before, that way avoiding the adjustment hassle.
Finally connect the cable/ handle assly to the dash with the 17mm wrench. Go around and replace the cable ties that you might have broke with regular zip ties. Re-install splash guard with new push pins and re-install wheel . There ... not that anybody will ever need this.