So I did a stupid today. I was redoing the brakes on my fiances ranger (pain in the butt i didn't know what i was getting into) and we added brake fluid, and I set my mug on the battery and closed the hood. One side is closed. The other isn't. The hood latch inside the cab is useless and i can't get the one by the radiator/grill to budge. Does anyone have any ideas? Its a 1988 XLT 4x4 with the 2.9 if that helps with anything.

 

Probably going to need a 2nd person,
One pushing down hard on the hood near the latch
One sticking their fingers between hood and grill trying to move the safety latch.

 

Everyone has their opinion and since I haven't seen what it looks like I'm guessing; and you haven't mentioned what you have tried.

A couple extra people would help, one inside pulling the hood release, one pressing down on the lifted side of the hood, and the other just in case. The person pressing down on the hood may need to apply pressure, let go, apply pressure again !

If the pressing down and pulling the release doesn't work, try pushing a flat blade screw between the hood and the grille and see if you can move the Main Latch, I'm guessing the main latch is jammed but it could be the safety latch, which you usually release with your hand.

These are just thoughts without seeing what is really happening but there isn't much more that usually holds the hood and since the bent hood is applying pressure in the wrong direction, applying force in the opposite direction should take enough pressure off the Latch to let it release.

If all else fails "Break the Coffee Mug" !

Good Luck, hope it releases for you.