thanks for the welcome!
have already picked up a few good tips (cleaning air flow sensor thing) and feel better about others whacking their hood mechanisms with various blunt instruments.
hope i don't get pulled by the police as i carry a hammer around in order to operate the hood.....seems to be worse in hot weather!! is something expanding in the heat to prevent the cover opening?? (i do operate in the winter as i use the hood stowage space for my golf clubs)