my 97 is like this..when i pull the hood it doesn't pop open..but then i just grab wherever i can and pull it up myself..the reason is that when you let your car sit, the seals start to get sticky...and it keeps the hood down...(just like how you don't open your doors for a while they are sorta sticky and you have to pull on them to get them open)..then i just hit the latch and voila!