door latch problem solved - temporarily maybe??

[SpeakerCity]

I would have never figured it out if not for the great people in this thread taking time to take pictures and explain. Thank you bsmaash and koda200!!!

My problem: door wouldn't lock or unlock while open or closed. 1999 Explorer Limited 2WD.

The cause was twofold: Broken actuator mount and missing spring.

I put a new screw in to keep the actuator in place. Boom. Actuator now works. Door lock goes up and down.

I went to my local mom and pop hardware store and bought three springs in varying lengths and thickness. Broke out some pliers, bent the ends just right, and after a few attempts I got it on.

I am sooooo stoked and relieved to have my door locks working again.

Now the hard part... putting the door panel back on!

Obligatory pic:

http://i.imgur.com/QUAcRsB.jpg

 

[BJJackson]

Hay thanks a Lot. Had been fighting this for Months. Cost me .98 cents worked like a Charm.

 

[whosaroundtown]

Wow thank you so much. I wasn't even going to do this because my mechanic owes me a favor and he said it was a broken actuator.
Today I found a spring in my shed and decided what the hell.
It worked I was blown away.
Thank you!

 

[ssmith8292]

door latch problem solved-temporarily maybe??

After the weather finally broke here, had a chance today to take my door apart on my '04, and address this same issue with the door lock/latch not working. The spring you talked about was gone in my application, so I attached a couple zip ties, loosely, to hold the rod in the up position as you had mentioned. Problem solved temporarily-maybe!! Thank you for the insight!

Scott Smith

 

[awchu3]

Thanks bdmaash, my explorer has the exact same problem and fixed it with the spring as you prescribed. Thank you for sharing the fix.

 

[beertracker]

My 02 Explorer XLT is experiencing the "door ajar light on" problem and post #20 looks like it may be the info I am looking for.

The picture is missing can some one repost it so I will know where the door ajar switch is located?

Are there door ajar switch wires in the wiring bundle boot between the door and cab that I can test? What color wires do I look for?

Is there one door ajar switch per door? What about the rear lift gate does it have a door ajar switch?

 

[YTF0rd]

Going to have to try to fix my door.

Issue where the actuator wont unlock the drivers side door. Have to manually open it from the inside and also the key wont lock or unlock the door now.

 

[mrnapolean1]

Has anyone tried the spring fix on one of the rear doors?

My drivers side rear door will open fine as long as no one tries to open it with the door locked. This causes the locking mechanism to be blocked and the door cannot be unlocked. Pushing the rod up that goes to the outside door handle works every time.

I was just wondering if someone tried the spring fix on the rear doors.

 

[mrnapolean1]

I can confirm the spring trick does work on the rear doors.

You need this type of spring (Worked best in my case)

I had to cut this one to size. I used a little over half of this spring.
I added the clip on one end as pictured to clip onto the hole for the latch clearing (latch hinge still clears) and I used a keyring on the other end to loop around the rod and clip.

Here is the finished product:

Door handles and the locks can now live together again.

 

[kcampbe]

I performed this operation on my '97 EB today. It was fairly straightforward and I hope it will let me unlock the front doors and not have to open the back to reach up.

Thanks for sharing!

 

[theryking]

Did this last night on my 98 XLT thanks so much to everyone this solved it and relatively easy.

So happy to have found this group.

 

[koda2000]

I did it 4 years ago and it still works fine. I just used a throttle return spring and bent the end over to hook it on. The one pictured above is down right "fancy".

 

[ttbit]

Several years here also.

 

[theryking]

My 02 Explorer XLT is experiencing the "door ajar light on" problem and post #20 looks like it may be the info I am looking for.

The picture is missing can some one repost it so I will know where the door ajar switch is located?

Are there door ajar switch wires in the wiring bundle boot between the door and cab that I can test? What color wires do I look for?

Is there one door ajar switch per door? What about the rear lift gate does it have a door ajar switch?

Did you get your door ajar issue fixed? After fixing the spring I may have caused another issue. Going to take a look tonight.

 

[Paul Fithian]

Big THANK YOU!! for posting this.

My driver side front door had this problem, easily fixed with the Advance Auto Parts 29005 spring. Did the passenger side also.

Makes the door handle feel more solid also.

 

[beertracker]

Did you get your door ajar issue fixed? After fixing the spring I may have caused another issue. Going to take a look tonight.

Yes, I did get it fixed. I replaced the door ajar sensor (switch) located in the driver side door. It's in the latch mechanism. Here is the part.

http://www.oreillyauto.com/site/c/d..._5016028_440&keyword=door+ajar+warning+switch

 

[preese]

Joined just to say thanks!
Performs as advertised! Looks like an original part
I can hear the spring sprangin' in there when the handle releases, or when you closed the door...like a guitar string...hilarious.
Obligatory pic here.
Thanks again everyone, especially this threads' original McGuyver!!!