1996 Mercury Sable Hood Release

When you pull on the cable, try having someone tap on the front of the hood with their hand to see if that will jar it loose.

Let me know if that helps.

look at the side edge of hood, if the hood seems to be lower than the fenders then you need to adjust the hood hieght. Do this by raising the hood & finding the two adjusting bumpers. Each one will be at the front of engine compartment. They will be studs with rubber bumper pads on them. turn them
counterclockwise while checkingt hood hieght. Each
time the hood should pop open a little bit better. you will notice before starting this adjustment that the wheather stripping around the hood is being displaced this keeping the hood down, when done
the wheather stripping will look the same all around the hood