Driver's side rear door won't open, 2000 explorer limited

[stshef]

Somehow at the carwash the rear door got jammed. Didn't know until I got home. Wouldn't open from inside or out. Friend pulled too hard on ext. handle and broke it. I've replaced that before, but door would open from inside. Inside handle remains partially pulled. Now trying to decide how to remove panel from inside with door closed if possible. Remove seats? Slim Jim?(I don't own one) Will the inside panel even come off with the door shut? I don't know what to try first. Need a source for new ext. and possible int. handles. Any help would be appreciated!

 

[Flag Gibby]

You are going to have to pull the cover off of the interior of the door and manually release the mechanism by reaching inside the door cavity. Make sure that the lock button is not stuck partially down by jiggling it up and down to ensure it is not stuck on something then leave it unlocked while you release the door mechanism. You should have enough room to remove the door panel with the seat in, it might be a little cramped but should still have enough space to pop the clips around the edges and slide it up and off once you remove the interior handle and release pull that keeps the door screwed in place.

 

[stshef]

Thanks. After reading multiple posts on various sites I was able to remove the interior panel by prying the top up and then reaching down to pull the linkage and open the door. Now trying to remove the interior handle. I have the 2 bolts out but it wont budge. I see that maybe it needs to slide forward to remove. I'm going to try that now. Thanks for the help.