How to open the hood

[Chameleon]

The internal release cable on my 99 Explorer must be stretched. I pull it and it releases a little bit, but not enough to pop the hood so the secondary release lever can be reached. If you press down on the hood again, it gives an audible click to indicate it was partially released. I have tried to pry it up with the lug wrench, a long screwdriver and stiking upwards on the front lip of the hood and it does not come up.

So I took it to the dealer and they said to try spraying penetrating fluid on the release and showed me it through the grill, but it is only a part of the lever, it is not the actual latch. They said if that doesn't work, they will need to pull the grill off, but he wouldn't say how they can do that from the outside. (probably by breaking it and putting in a new one)

Anybody have any real ideas?

Thanks in advance!