How do you do the splits all the way down?

Make sure you stretch before doing the splits. Practise everyday doing the splits and you will get better each day.

I had the same problem with my 95 and all it needed was lubrication worked into it. Spray a lubricant into the latch assy and apply grease to the hook portion of the latch that contacts the hood.

No, it was made for child safety.

Its probably broken. Most likely there is a crack in the casing where the spring loaded hinge is mounted. It probably got broken when it was opened too far, or maybe its just worn from age. These...

Trim or lightly cut back shoots that spoil symmetry, they will tolerate harder pruning, but not to ground level. Prune from mid to late Spring