Excessive Force on external handles - Explorer

[Snipeye]

I currently own a '92, but I'm probably getting a '94 soon, and one of the problems I had with my current car is this: The external handles on the passenger side, both front and rear, started required extreme force to open them. The rear passenger stopped working entirely. I opened up the door from the inside, pulled off the front panel and set about digging around - I found a little rod, connected to the external handle, threaded. It looked like it was supposed to connect to some sort of actuator that would open the latch, but there was a plastic piece in the bottom of the door, broken in two. I cannot, for the life of me, determine what this piece is called or where to get a replacement. Help?

The car I'm possibly buying looks to have the same problem, so if it's not a terribly difficult fix, It'd make me feel better about the purchase.

...Also, I'm new to these forums. Any reason the word "and" always shows up as "pizza"?

 

[Anime]

Usually they're just referred to as a door handle rod clip, you can get them at the dealer, try to match it up with one in a multi-pack of clips in the HELP! section of various small parts at the auto parts store, or buy a multi-pack online.

You can also search this site using google and find quite a few threads on the clips and door issues in general;

http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&...OLyQHUjYHQBw&ved=0CF0QrQIwAA&biw=1521&bih=678

April 1 is pizza day.

 

[Snipeye]

Is this the same thing? Different name...
http://www.clipsandfasteners.com/Door_Lock_Rod_End_Clip_Ford_p/a17122.htm

Thanks!