i cant get my hood to close on my 98 Jeep Cherokee Sport...it will close on one side and then pops open again...any ideas how to fix this ?

 

Make sure the handle you use to open the hood is all the way pushed back in before you try to close the hood. That did it for me at least.

 

Have you sprayed the latch with lubricant? Do you have adjustable hood stop bumpers that might be in need of adjustment. If they're screwed in too far your hood sits below the fenders, and if set too high then the hood sits above the fenders. Maybe worth a check.

 

I needed to lube the latches for my 97 as one did the same thing. It also wouldnt open at one point for the same reason. The latches needed lubed. I used PB Blaster, and a rag to keep overspray to a minimum. While i was there, i lubed the bellcrank on the hood as well. Work the moving parts a couple times so the lube finds its way into all of it. You might want to use a grease meant for latches, etc. as the PB wont last as long.

 

I use the CRC White Lithium Grease that comes in the spray can for that.
Hit it twice a year. Part of my April and October maintenance.
Just a precautionary measure.
I bought this a couple years ago to see if I could use it on the hood release cable.
Haven't tried it yet though. LOL.

 

I do the same thing.

 

Make sure your hood release lever is all the way pushed in..mine does the same thing if it isnt.

 

^^^ This. This right here. For me, it was a combo of that (the biggest obstacle), and the bar that connects the two latches and the cable mechanism, being sticky. I basically drenched both latches in Krown T40 to dissolve a little of the old grease, and wiggled the sh*t out of it. Just to make sure it got into all the crevices and nooks. Made sure it's all loose, and then I just make sure to PUSH IN THE HOOD RELEASE LATCH, EVERY TIME

 

Call me old school, but I use Hoppe's Gun Oil on a lot of things, like door latches and the ends of sliding cables. It doesn't gum up or evaporate too much.