Recently started tearing back into my '99 XJ. Hood opened fine without issue before we had it towed from where it was sitting. When we got it off the tow truck and went to open the hood the hood would only open maybe 1/4 the way. It appears it is contacting the plastic cowl basically dead center. Thought there might have been some debris stuck in there. Got it all cleaned up and that is not the issue. Attempted to loosen the bolts where the hinge mounts the hood and its better but still will not open all the way. All the other doors open without issue and no other body panels feel or look off. Gap between the front of the hood and the grill surround looks ok and the striker on the hood is hitting the exact same spot on the grill where it locks down. Drove it around the neighborhood thinking maybe it was just sitting weird and no change.

Any ideas on next step? Pull the hood off completely and slot the openings in the hinge?

 

Remove the cowl? Are all the screws there holding it down? The center front of jeep most bolt secures to a bracket that's bolted through the firewall and cowl right next to the map sensor. If that screw or mount is missing or lose the cowl can float up and interfere with the hood

 

Thanks for the reply. As best I can tell the screws are all there. There is defiantly some movement with the cowl when trying to open the hood when it contacts.

Tried to remove the wiper arms to then get the cowl off but they do not want to come off. Once the tabs are pulled up the arms should just pop off, right?

 

They should pop off but if they have never been removed there is some galling that has occurred and they'll be stuck. Keep working them and have patience they will eventually pop off. When you put them back on a little anti-seize on the splines will make you happy next time you take them off.