RELEASE FOR CLOSURE PANEL PULL DOWN MECHANISM

A vehicle body compartment is closed by a closure panel movable between an open position and a closed position. A latch assembly mounted on the panel has a latch bolt spring biased to an unlatched position and normally maintained in the latched position by a detent lever. A pull down mechanism includes a housing mounted on a vehicle body and a striker mounted thereon by a motorized vertically reciprocating drive unit for moving the striker between extended position and a retracted position. When the panel is moved toward the closed position, the latch bolt engages with the extended striker to interconnect the panel with the striker. The drive unit is energized and retracts the striker, thereby pulling the panel to its fully closed position. To open the panel, the operator energizes the drive unit to move the striker from the retracted position to the extended position. A plunger is mounted on the latch assembly and engages with the vehicle body so that progressive opening movement of the panel by the extension of the striker permits a spring to extend the plunger. A cam device acts between the plunger and the detent lever of the latch assembly to cam the detent lever to the position releasing the latch bolt, thereby disconnecting the panel from the striker and freeing the panel for movement to the open position.