Driverside back door won't open

[Brian8]

Ok, I did do a search but couldn't find what I need. Like I said the driverside back won't open from the inside of the vehicle. It looks like the plastic gear inside has a couple of broken teeth. My question is does anyone know how hard it would be to replace this piece and is it fairly inexpensive?

Thanks,
Brian

 

[NoBoundaries]

This may be a dumb question or a good one, have you checked the child safety lock? Just wanted to check.

 

[Brian8]

LOL, yes i did check the child saftey lock but that is not it. I did take the panel off and there is a plastic gear in there that has a couple of teeth missing. That is the only thing i can think of.
It doesn't really bother me if it works or not b/c I don't use it but am getting tired of hearing people b***h about it.

 

[AgExplorer]

I have a somewhat similar problem with my '95. The back doors are very difficult to open from the inside. I haven't pulled the door panels off yet but will be in the near future to install some new speakers. Any insight will be greatly apprecited.

 

[Alto]

Is it me or is this a 95 Thing?

I guess I win the can of " Spamed Ham " !

Both of my doors have the problem. I thought that the child safety lock broke. I was about to go in and try to fix it today. Instead I'm on the computer. My weeked starts on Thursday here (It's a Muslim thing even I don't understand) Hopefully I can tackle this this weekend!

 

[McDatkin]

drivers rear door won't open

I had the broken plastic inner catch replaced. Part costs about #30.00 and the labor about $30.00. The rear drivers door wouldn't open from the inside

 

[Flounder]

Sounds like your handle mechanisms are broken. E-A-S-Y fix. Go to the dealer, ask for a left rear and right rear handle assembly. They should be $12ish each. They will look like the handles inside, just in case you're not sure. Take your door panel off by unscrewing the two screws under the door handle, then removing the little plastic surround of the door opening handle. Next, using a panel removal tool or a flat chisel with a rag wrapped around it (to protect your paint), pop off all the plastic rivets. The door should now be able to be lifted up and over the lock rod. Disconnect the power window switch by unscrewing the 2 screws from the underside of the switch and unhooking the wire plug. Now, you unscrew the two screws holding in the handle itself. Slide the handle back, then unhook it from the steel rod it is connected to that allows it to open from the inside. Put the new handle in the same way, making sure the rod is in the plastic handle arm. Now put the door back together the same way, opposite of course. I guarantee you'll see on the old mechanisms that there is a plastic part broken where the rod was connected. It doesn't take much to break them, just a strong pull.

I broke the left handle once and right handle once. I paid Ford $50 to fix the right. The left I was determined not to pay and do it myself. I found it quite easy if you had a door panel removal tool, the parts (haha), and an extra bag of plastic rivet clips to replace any you may have damaged when removing the panel.

You can do it guys, trust me.

 

[geo95xlt]

i've had the same problem for a couple of years now too.both my back doors are the same.i took it back when it was new,they said that they "adjusted" them,but it wasn't a great improvement.i'll try it myself this time,thanks for the info.

 

[Flounder]

If you need help as you do it, e-mail me.

 

[AgExplorer]

Adam,

Thank you for the detailed explanation. I'll have to send Tori at FordPartsNetwork.com an e-mail for the parts and extra plastic rivets. Maybe he can save me a few bucks.