Help please! I have a power door lock & linkage issue.

[freddybolen]

Hi, I'm new to the site, and would like to introduce myself. My name is Fred, and I live in Michigan. I have an '01 Explorer Sport, and it has been a great vehicle for the most part. However, I have a problem with the door locks. I'm not sure what forum I should post this in, so maybe someone can give me a helping hand.

Anyways, my power door actuator stopped working. I noticed that the rivet broke off on the door panel, causing the actuator to bounce around and not give the right amount of pressure to lock or unlock the door. Not too big of a deal because I'm sure I can fix that. My bigger problem is that there is another issue with the linkage or something. I can't use my interior handle either. I have to roll my window down and pull on the exterior handle to open the door. I replaced the interior handle and it worked for a couple of weeks, but now feels like it's pulling really hard. If I lock my door, I have to roll down the window, pop off the panel and pull on the linkage to get my door to pop open. I'm thinking that it has something to do with the linkage, but thought maybe someone else has had the same problem and could help me out. Thanks!

 

[sensai827]

Hi, I'm new to the site, and would like to introduce myself. My name is Fred, and I live in Michigan. I have an '01 Explorer Sport, and it has been a great vehicle for the most part. However, I have a problem with the door locks. I'm not sure what forum I should post this in, so maybe someone can give me a helping hand.

Anyways, my power door actuator stopped working. I noticed that the rivet broke off on the door panel, causing the actuator to bounce around and not give the right amount of pressure to lock or unlock the door. Not too big of a deal because I'm sure I can fix that. My bigger problem is that there is another issue with the linkage or something. I can't use my interior handle either. I have to roll my window down and pull on the exterior handle to open the door. I replaced the interior handle and it worked for a couple of weeks, but now feels like it's pulling really hard. If I lock my door, I have to roll down the window, pop off the panel and pull on the linkage to get my door to pop open. I'm thinking that it has something to do with the linkage, but thought maybe someone else has had the same problem and could help me out. Thanks!

Hope this helps, I had the same problem on my 99 Mountaineer, I used PB on the latch assembly and it helped but it was still sticky, wound up replacing the latch assembly.

 

[BrooklynBay]

Welcome to this forum! I've renamed your thread, and moved it into the stock 95-01 section. The linkage is probably getting tangled because the power lock actuator is touching it. You could either use a new rivet or a screw to hold the actuator in place.

 

[RomeovilleIL]

Like Brooklyn said: Fix the lock actuator. If you have taken the door skin off before to mess around with the handle, why would you leave the actuator just dangling and banging around in there? It is very likely interfering the operation of the other parts & you are begging for something to get broken like your power window. Either rivet back in place or use a short bolt and nut. I doubt it will cost more than a dime and 15 minutes of your time.

 

[freddybolen]

Thanks guys! That is what I have planned for tonight, fixing the actuator. I haven't done so because I didn't have the rivet gun, but after searching the site, I found some good ideas on how to get it done.

 

[dklimek]

Just wanted to say, I have three explorers in the family and have done this many times. I just use a conventional nut and bolt for easy removal, works like a charm! By the sounds of it though, you have a broken spring jamming up your door latch and putting too much stress on your door parts trying to force the latch open.

Grab a nut and bolt, and see what happens after you throw that in there (I used a wrench for the inside of the door, and a rachet for the outside with a lockwasher). If you still have the issue then I'd bet it's the latch, sounds like it broke the interior handle too. Pull off the inner door handle (two phillips screws, and pull it off) and inspect it, you should see the tab where the rod slides in on the back is broken..or that the spring is broken and won't function when you try to "open" the handle in your hand. If this is the case it's likely you have a broken door latch spring somewhere in the bottom of your door. You have to get the latch from ford, they are around $60-70 for one of them. Save the door sensors out of the old latches in case you need them later! Personally if it were me, and I was doing all that I would order a outer handle as well...pop those rivets out and get two 1/4 x 1/4 phillips flat head bolts. All exterior handles come in black, but you can get your paint in a spray can at most any parts store.

Keep us updated!

 

[freddybolen]

Well, I solved the interior door handle last night. The backside lever(where the teeth meet) snapped off. Found the pieces laying in the bottom of the door. I also got the actuator put back into place. It was an easy fix. EXCEPT, after doing that, the lock still wouldn't work. With searching, and using the passenger side for reference, I noticed there was a broken spring where the door locks at the end of the door. I didn't think to take a pic. I ran out of time last night to tackle the problem, but I work at Lowe's and figured I would pick up a pack of springs, and see if I can get it done tomorrow night. thanks again for all the help! this forum is awesome and saved me a lot of time and money!

 

[dklimek]

Figured so, as I mentioned see if your outer door handle feels like it's loose or has any play while you are in there.

 

[freddybolen]

Well, tonight I was able to spend some time to tackle the problem. Found the spring that holds up the lever for the door lock in the locking mechanism (at edge of the door). After several attempts, I was able to use a pair of my fishing hook removal forceps to feed the spring into the mechanism and hook it into place. Put the actuator back in place, and I now have a fully functioning lock and door again. Thanks again for everyone's help!

@ dklimek - Yes, my exterior handle is a little loose. I found the spring was broken in that too. However, it is still hooked onto the handle at an awkward angle, but still puts pressure on the handle. That is my next task to get done. But at least for now, I can now lock and unlock my door.

 

[BrooklynBay]

Thanks for the update!