rear hatch door on 2000 mountaineer won't open

mercmt · June 14, 2015

My rear hatch door on my 2000 mountaineer won't open. It feels like some kind of spring broke in the latch. It also causing my interior light to stay on. How do you get at the handle to repair or replace?

koda2000 · June 14, 2015

Most likely the yellow plastic clip that holds the latch rod to the latch pivot pulled out or broke. $3.50 part. That doesn't explain why your interior lights stay on though. Is the hatch closed completely?

Sitcoms · June 14, 2015

If you figure out the hatch not opening problem and the interior light stays on, try spraying WD-40 or something like it in the latch. Had a problem with my rear gate setting off my door ajar and keeping the light on.

mercmt · June 14, 2015

I think it is closed completely. But I am not sure. Is seems to be. the interior light goes off when I am driving after a few minutes but when parked it stays on. Meanwhile How do I get the latch off. The 2 fasteners that attach the latch to the door are a mystery to me. they don't seem to be star x or hex. They seem to be round rather than hex

koda2000 · June 14, 2015

BTW, It is possible to get the lift-gate open by opening the rear window and inserting a long screwdriver down from the top, releasing the latches by pushing down on the pivot, which is located in the center of the lift-gate. Then the interior trim panel can be removed to access the rods and plastic clips. I find the clips fail because the exterior handle and the latches don't get lubricated regularly. This causes too much stress on the plastic clips. Then they pull open and/or break.

mercmt · June 14, 2015

koda2000 said:
BTW, It is possible to get the lift-gate open by opening the rear window and inserting a long screwdriver down from the top, releasing the latches by pushing down on the pivot, which is located in the center of the lift-gate. Then the interior trim panel can be removed to access the rods and plastic clips. I find the clips fail because the exterior handle and the latches don't get lubricated regularly. This causes too much stress on the plastic clips. Then they pull open and/or break.

I didn't know the rear window opened. Thanks for your help. I will see if I can figure it out

mercmt · June 14, 2015

Ok I figured out how the rear hatch window opened. I just got this vehichle a few months ago so I had never opened it. but I still have to figure out how to get it open. yesterday my girl friend told me she had to crawl through the back to get in. Now I know she meant through the hatch window! she had left it partially open which I think was causing the light to stay on

koda2000 · June 14, 2015

mercmt said:
Ok I figured out how the rear hatch window opened. I just got this vehichle a few months ago so I had never opened it. but I still have to figure out how to get it open. yesterday my girl friend told me she had to crawl through the back to get in. Now I know she meant through the hatch window! she had left it partially open which I think was causing the light to stay on

I don't understand. Why would your GF need to crawl through the rear window to get in? Don't any of the doors open?

mercmt · June 14, 2015

She didn't know the code and instead of calling me for it she did that. the key doesn't work on the driver's side.. Yes the doors all open. you know women

mercmt · June 14, 2015

But as to trying to get a long screwdriver down there, so far I have had no luck. right by the window latch? (on either side?)

koda2000 · June 14, 2015

The latch pivot is located in the center of the lift-gate about midway down. From the outside, with the window up, push the plastic trim away from you and using a good flashlight look straight down. You should see two rods extending out to the right and left latches. The rods attach to the pivot, which looks kinda like a watts link (if you know what that is). If you push down on one of the sides of the pivot with a long screwdriver, or whatever you have handy (left side if I remember correctly) it has the same effect as pulling the exterior handle. It will release the latches. It helps to have someone helping you, as it's hard to push down and lift at the same time.

mercmt · June 14, 2015

ok will try that thanks

koda2000 · June 14, 2015

Once you get the lift-gate open you'll need to remove the interior trim panel to get access to the inside of the lift-gate to replace the yellow plastic clip. Here's how to do that;

The lift-gate interior panel is held to the lift-gate with plastic hooks on the bottom (below the window) and metal push-in clips along the sides and top of the window. There may also be a single screw under the smaller plastic cover by the window latch.

1. Remove the 2 screws that hold the pull-down strap to the lift-gate and remove the strap.

2. Remove the small cover near the rear window latch and the single screw you may find under it. It may be missing.

3. Using a trim removal tool (a stiff putty knife may also work), stick it between the plastic panel and the metal part of the door, starting at the bottom of the window, and slide it up until you encounter the first retaining clip. Then pop the clip out.

4. Proceed around the rear window sides and top. If I remember correctly there are 2 clips on each slide and 3-4 along the top.

5. Once the clips are out, simply lift the lower part of the panel upward to unhook it from the door. are maybe 8-10 plastic hooks to disengage.

Leave the trim panel off until you get a new yellow plastic clip. Note were the old one snapped onto the release rod, as it's location is adjustable. The clip snaps into a hole in the release handle.

mercmt · June 14, 2015

thanks again for your help I haven't been able to figure out what to push down on.

koda2000 · June 14, 2015

did you see the metal rods extending out to the left and right sides of the lift-gate?

mercmt · June 14, 2015

Yes I do they have yellow clips on them

mercmt · June 14, 2015

I can see the pivot it just doesn't seem to move unless I am just not pushing in the right spot

mercmt · June 14, 2015

https://www.dropbox.com/s/iakty1hcuh1rz5x/2015-06-14 17.39.30.jpg?dl=0
taken from inside

koda2000 · June 14, 2015

mercmt said:
I can see the pivot it just doesn't seem to move unless I am just not pushing in the right spot

When everything is connected, lifting the outside handle pulls on a shorter, vertically mounted metal rod, which in turn pulls down on the left side of the pivot, drawing in the left and right rods that go to the lift-gate latches. Pushing down on the left side of the pivoting piece would do the same thing.

mercmt · June 14, 2015

I give up for today. I think I saw that vertical rod you referred to does that photo look like it was taken of the right thing?

rear hatch door on 2000 mountaineer won't open

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