I just snapped some pics to help.. adjusting the latch & hood bumper.
First, check that the latch loop is fastened ok underside the hood, if it's loose that could be a culprit.
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If this is ok, now you need to determine if the latch is catching the loop when the hood is shut, the latch loop should be captured by the latch claws.
I simulated this with a bolt in this picture below, you can see the bolt is captured and the only way I can release it is by the depressing the latch release in the grille opening.
I think this is your problem, the hood loop is not being captured in the latch, next step is to find out why.
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The latch assembly may be too low, not allowing the latch locking claws to shut around the hood loop.
First thing to do is lower the hood bumper, spin the hood bumper screw (clockwise) and lower it, count the number of turns, for example 5 full turns. If needed, you can mark the hood bumper rubber with a pencil to keep track of the turns.
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Next step is to shut your hood, slowly drop your hood, press the left hood side firmly down until you hear the hood latch catch click, then go to the right side and firmly press the hood down until you hear the latch catch click shut.
Observe the hood gap, does it look ok, or too high or low?
If it is too low you can raise the latch mechanism, open the hood and loosen these 2 bolts below and raise the latch mechanism up 1/8" and retighten.
Shut the hood again, it may be trial and error raising or lowering the latch mechanism to set the closed hood height.
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Once the hood shuts with a nice gap you need to adjust the hood bumper, the purpose of the bumper is to keep the hood snug to the car, eliminate any vibrations in the latch mechanism, without a hood bumper you would hear a very annoying rattling of the loop in the catch mechanism driving over bumps etc..
The hood bumper does not adjust hood height, the latch does. Raise the hood bumper less of number turns when it was previously lowered, such as raising 3 full turns (counterclockwise).
Place a strip of grocery bag paper on the bumper.
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Shut the hood, if the latch does not click shut, then lower the hood bumper and try again.
If the hood latch does click shut and if you can pull the paper strip out, you need to raise the hood bumper.
Raise the hood bumper up 1 turn at a time trying to pull paper strip out after closing hood, maybe take a few times..
The goal is to raise the hood bumper until you can no longer pull the paper strip out when the hood is shut.
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Once you can no longer pull the paper strip out, raise the hood bumper one last time up 1/2 of a turn, and now you should be able to slam your hood shut and have a nice gap.
Best regards,
Mike
