l picked up a 2001 Ford Crown Vic P71 a couple weeks back, but it needs a new headlamp.I've opened my hood a couple times before to check on things and scope how easy a light replacement would be, and the answer is it would be simple.

Problem being that now l have my headlight my hood refuses to open.l can use the trigger inside the car to pop the hood and it works fine.But when l go to try and use the manual release inside the hood and pull up, the latch catches again and wo not let the hood go.By looking l can see that when the latch is pushed the hook holding the hood down moves aside, but not far enough, so every time the hood is pulled up on, it slides back into place and stays locked down.

I am wondering if there is any trick to this that might enable me to get it open, it worked fine before and now it refuses to let go.Any help is appreciated.
Okay, following further inspection I've learned a bit more on my problem.

There is a plastic cover running the width of my car covering the radiator and headlights, l believe this piece is meant to direct air through the engine compartment, but that is beside my point.

It appears once l replaced this it was not centered.This has resulted in the plastic piece partially blocking the hood release, allowing only limited movement.

My question now is should l take clippers and just chunk away at the plastic until it can move, or is there a better way to go about this?

Pull the lever inside car and have someone else pull up on hood. After opening raise the hood bumpers on each front corner of the radiator support about 1/2 turn. Also spray the latch assembly with like WD-40.