2003 Frontier XE hood came loose. Please help me remount it!

[soarwitheagles]

Happy New Year everyone!

I opened the hood of my 2003 Nissan Frontier XE today and was shocked to discover the attachment nuts/bolts must have come loose on the right mount area [the entire hood was able to pivot several inches].

My question is:

How do I access the area where the “arm” of the hood mount attaches to the truck.

I do see a hole in the firewall where the “arm” of the hood mount goes into, but I have no clue as to how to get into that area.

I was wondering if I could gain access to the mounting area if I remove that plastic part above the hole in the firewall [the long black plastic part that covers the area beneath the wiper arms and runs the width of the truck between the windshield and the hood].

I am concerned my hood could fly off the truck and cause serious damage if I go on the freeway.

Could someone here please help me understand how to access the hole in the firewall so I can remount my hood arm?

Thank you very much!

Soar