The plot thickens. Just for laughs and grins I took the coiled spring off (the one just to the drivers side of the latch) and shut the hood. With the spring off the hood lined up correctly?! I had a brief panic when I tried to unlatch the hood, as it didn't seem to work! I did get it to unlatch after a few tries so I could open the hood again. I certainly don't want to leave the spring off, but it does seem to be exerting too much force on the drivers side of the hood and that is what is causing it to stay raised a little higher than it should sit. I am not sure there is anything I can do about the spring exerting too much force?