98 XLT 4dr Rear Hatch won't open

[gsjacobs]

Hello, I'm new here.
I tried to search for my issue, didn't find what I needed, appologies if this is the wrong place to post.

The other day I tried to open the rear hatch on my 98 XLT 4dr but it won't. I can open the flip-up glass part ok, but the large door won't open. The handle on the outside has the same feel as when the door is locked, in that it doesn't seem to engage with anything. I figure I need to take off the inside panel to look at the linkages and check things out, but it looks like I need to have the whole hatch open before I can get the inner panel off. So I seem stuck. :scratch:

Is there a work-around to getting the large rear hatch door open? I was thinking along the lines of when you lock your keys in and the locksmith sticks something long and skinny into just the right spot and pops the door open.
Thanks

 

[97ford50x]

welcome hope this will help .your best bet is to pull the cover of it sounds like the linkage is of or bent but that is were i would start

 

[gsjacobs]

I agree, but like I said before, I can't take the cover off until I can get the big hatch open. Any other suggestions?

 

[97ford50x]

what you may have to do is to cut a hole in the middle around the latch area there should be a vent get to it from there just small enough to get in to it i will try to get a pic of it later

 

[Donner]

How does the latch lock? By remote, manually, etc?

 

[gsjacobs]

It locks by dash switch and remote. Not manually.

 

[Donner]

You'd probably want to check that switch... Does the switch on the driver door usually unlock the hatch as well?

 

[gsjacobs]

yes all dash switches (the switch in the back plus the 2 front door switches) operate the lock on the rear lift gate.

 

[Donner]

Assuming you've tried all of those, then the latch itself, when you lift the glass, is there an access hole down into the door? I don't have your model, so I'm hoping you do...

 

[Donner]

Oh, the remote might also help... keep pressing the lock and unlock buttons and listen for any click in the latch area. I don't think it's broken, it sounds like it's not receiving a signal. Reset time.

 

[97ford50x]

if the glass opens then the handle is ulocked it sounds like the ulock rod came off you are going to have to get in side to find out

 

[Donner]

97ford50x, does this year model have an access port? Like a removable handle inside?

 

[97ford50x]

no the only thing you have is a little slot at the to by the lock button not much room to work with though

 

[Donner]

Battery reset?

 

[gsjacobs]

I finally had some time to look at this and I have fixed it. It was a linkage adjustment problem, but I can't figure out how it got out of whack. I'm guessing it just got old and sloppy.

At first I thought the main rotating actuator was broken, took out the whole linkage assembly and had a good look. I was trying to figure out how it worked so that I could appear somewhat knowledgeable when I went to the parts department. Once I understood how it worked, I realized there was nothing wrong with it, so I put it all back together, made some adjustments in the linkage tension in a couple of places, lubed everything real good, and it worked great.

If you ever need to do this, here's some tips I can pass on:
You CAN take the cosmetic inner plastic panel off even when the lift gate is still closed. Start at the top, above the window, gently pop out a few of hidden tabs, then work around to the sides of the window and pop a few more. Take out the small screw near the centre bottom of the window, and then a couple screws that hold the inside pull strap handle. Then you should be able to lift up the whole plastic panel and off it comes. From there you remove a thin plastic dust panel and then it's pretty straigt forward after that (although kind of tight in some places.)

Thanks to those who offered suggestions above, I appreciated it.

 

[diannimal]

So What exactly is a "linkage"???

Hello, am new here....took over my son's 98 explorer while he is in the peace corps, and it has 188,000 miles. Battery died, so i had a new one put in as well as having a tune up done. now I can't open the back. The key sounds like it is working, but nothing happens. So what is linkage? Is this something I can fix? Anybody here from NC? I love my son's vehicle and hope to keep it in good shape while he is gone.:exp:

 

[gsjacobs]

In general, linkage is a series of rods, gears, levers, etc that are all 'linked' together, mainly to change or transfer an action at some location to a different action at another location.

In the case of the rear lift gate or any door on your explorer, when you operate the handle to open the door, a series of gears, rods, levers transfers that action to the latch that holds the door closed, and releases the latch, allowing you to pull the door open.

Some of these rods have adjustments (because not all explorers are exactly alike) and in my case one of the rods came loose and needed to be tightened up (some threads tightened).

All of this stuff is concealed inside the door, and if you want to fiddle with it, you first need to figure out how to take the inside door panel off (see my post above for tips on that.) It took me quite a while to figure out how the whole thing works, and its cramped and hard to see and work inside the door space.

Is your problem with opening the glass portion only, or the whole lift gate door?

Do you have a manual lock button on the rear lift gate door (one you push and pull in and out by hand), or do your explorer locks only operate by electric switch buttons and remote control like mine?

 

[diannimal]

I got the hatch open!

Thank you for your help. What I did was take the remote entry "key" and pressit several times, then I tried to open it manually again, and it did open. I don't know why it got stuck, but I have been cleaning it a lot, and perhaps some goo was stuck in it. Anyway, I ended up getting a new alternator put in after the new battery, because the battery light started coming on after only a few miles....it seems fine now....for now! This site has helped me a lot. Thank you for responding to my plea.
diannimal:exp: