The spring is suppose to pop the latch up, and lift the hood with it just enough to get a hand underneath to open the safety catch. To prove it, next time you have the hood open, gently lower it past the safety catch until the latching loop is resting on the latch. It should be just popped enough to get your hand underneath to get to the safety catch.
The problem is the latch can stick due to lack of grease on the latching plates or damage. The only way I've been able to get it to work freely again was to hose the latch down with a penetrating lube, and work the latch using a friend and a screwdriver. The screwdriver acts as a surrogate latch loop, and the friend pulls on the hood release as a way to easily open and close the latch, and work the penetrating lube in. Once it frees up better, soak it down with a spray-on lithium or graphite lube.
If it has any evidence of damage, your probably better off replacing it. I would not hesitate to use a junkyard replacement.
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