How Do I Open It?

[koda2000]

okay, i'm starting work on my latest project (another 2000 Mountaineer). The rear hatch/tailgate does not open. the handle feels as though it is not connected to anything (assuming a rod/clip issue). as i can't open the hatch, i can't remove the interior panel to get at the internals. i'm sure this has happened to one of you guys. is there a way to get it open without getting out the plasma cutter? - thanks in advance for your help.

 

[koda2000]

apparently i can remove the outside handle (by drilling out the rivits) and go in from the bottom, pull the latch rod with pliers to open the liftgate.

or, I can open the rear window, go in from the inside top by prying the plastic trim away from the liftgate (hopefully w/out breaking it) reaching in to pull the rod with a pair of long needle nose pliers.

or, i can try removing the trim panel from the inside with the liftgate closed. i don't know if this method will work as i don't know if i'll be able to pop the metal clips out at the top and/or manipulate the panel off with the liftgate closed.

what i'll most likey find is a broken/open yellow plastic clip on the latch rod. gotta love Google!

 

[Joe Dirt]

It's not that bad to pull the trim out with the gate closed. It's possible, I wouldn't recommend doing it when it's cold out though- more likely to break something.

 

[koda2000]

i was able to get it open by going in from the top with a long screw driver and pushing the latch rod to the left. (broke one trim clip... whoops).

the problem was that the watts-link looking pivot the rods attach to and the latches were very stiff to operate due to lack of lubrication. the pervious owner forced the handle and broke the yellow plastic clip at the handle end and then it fell out of the handle.

Note: for those who may be reading this, if you find your lift-gate handle getting hard to operate, lube up the release mechanisum, handle and latches. much easier than fixing it.

 

[1992fordgreen]

Nice info thanks

 

[fredscott]

any pictures of going in from the top? I am getting ready to do this on my 2000 model. Is is fairly intuitive when you get into it?

 

[koda2000]

any pictures of going in from the top? I am getting ready to do this on my 2000 model. Is is fairly intuitive when you get into it?

Sorry, no pictures. Once I managed to man-handle the trim panel over the rear window latch (beware, there may, or may not, be a single screw under the smaller plastic cover on the trim panel) I used a good flashlight to look down inside the lift-gate. I could then see the pivot point where the vertical movement of the exterior handle’s rod is converted to horizontal movement to the 2 rods that go out to each latch.

As best I can recall, I then used a large screw driver to push down on the left side of the pivot to release the latches. The pivot point is located in the center of the lift-gate not too far below the rear window latch.

Once the lift-gate is open, remove the interior panel in the usual way (remove the interior grab handle, then pop out the 6 push-in clips along the top and sides of the panel at the top of the rear window and lift the panel off the lift-gate). If you’ve broken a plastic trim panel clip, it’s not a big deal as there are 8 of them.

Once the trim panel was off, I removed the plastic vent thingy and weather shield from the lift-gate to get inside and to be able to see that I was doing. Once I located the vertical rod (took a couple of minutes) it was easy to install the new clip. In my case, the yellow plastic clip that holds the vertical metal rod to the exterior handle had broken and pulled out of the handle. It was still on the rod, which made it easier to figure out where to attach the new clip. I bought a new clip at Ford for couple of dollars (I probably have the part number if you need it).

After installing the new clip, I lubed the heck out of the latches and all the pivot points, and reassembled everything. It’s been working like new ever since. Good luck!

 

[fredscott]

Outstanding and thanks much. We got the thing opened up and found the yellow clip that had come out of the hole in the handle. We stuffed it back in the hole and zip-tied it in place. Temporary until we can find the right part. (If you have the number and easy at hand - that would be appreciated.) I got some pictures and will download from my phone shortly and see if they turned out at all. It was dark in there.

 

[koda2000]

Outstanding and thanks much. We got the thing opened up and found the yellow clip that had come out of the hole in the handle. We stuffed it back in the hole and zip-tied it in place. Temporary until we can find the right part. (If you have the number and easy at hand - that would be appreciated.) I got some pictures and will download from my phone shortly and see if they turned out at all. It was dark in there.

congrats! I believe the Ford part number for the clip is E83Z 5421952 B and it was about $3.00.

 

[fredscott]

This is the link to the part that failed on us. The piece at the 3:30 position (pointing to the right) in the picture is the part the fits in the hole on the handle. That had stripped out. The part was all yellow, this has the two colors, but the same piece. There are two cutouts in the door (once you remove the trim and the plastic sheet (what is that for? what does it do?). On our 2000 limited the cut out on the drivers side had a plastic cover held in place by plastic fasteners. Once we pulled that out access to the handle assembly was easy. As stated before, we just zip-tied the failed past back in place and seems to be working for now, until we can get the replacement part in. Plan is to get the part and put it in the parts bin and hope the temp fix holds. But will be ready if not. Pictures did not turn out, sorry. But once you get in it is really easy to see the problem and the solution. For our particular year model and actual problem at least.

http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl...UY3BM5Ou0AGkpYCYBg&ved=0CFcQ9QEwBjgK&dur=2842

 

[koda2000]

the plastic sheet is called the weather barrier. it's purpose is to keep moister away from the interior. if you remove a door panel, you'll see the same kind of plastic sheet.

the reason this part (the clip) fails is because the latches and linkage need to be lubricated periodically. failure to do this causes extra stress on the weakest link in the mechanism (the plastic clip) which then pulls out of the handle when forced.

 

[AngeloSims]

Sorry, no pictures. Once I managed to man-handle the trim panel over the rear window latch (beware, there may, or may not, be a single screw under the smaller plastic cover on the trim panel) I used good cheap flashlights to look down inside the lift-gate. I could then see the pivot point where the vertical movement of the exterior handle’s rod is converted to horizontal movement to the 2 rods that go out to each latch.

As best I can recall, I then used a large screw driver to push down on the left side of the pivot to release the latches. The pivot point is located in the center of the lift-gate not too far below the rear window latch.

Once the lift-gate is open, remove the interior panel in the usual way (remove the interior grab handle, then pop out the 6 push-in clips along the top and sides of the panel at the top of the rear window and lift the panel off the lift-gate). If you’ve broken a plastic trim panel clip, it’s not a big deal as there are 8 of them.

Once the trim panel was off, I removed the plastic vent thingy and weather shield from the lift-gate to get inside and to be able to see that I was doing. Once I located the vertical rod (took a couple of minutes) it was easy to install the new clip. In my case, the yellow plastic clip that holds the vertical metal rod to the exterior handle had broken and pulled out of the handle. It was still on the rod, which made it easier to figure out where to attach the new clip. I bought a new clip at Ford for couple of dollars (I probably have the part number if you need it).

After installing the new clip, I lubed the heck out of the latches and all the pivot points, and reassembled everything. It’s been working like new ever since. Good luck!

Thanks for sharing this wonderful information. It would be great if you can share some pics. Thanks again

 

[koda2000]

Thanks for sharing this wonderful information. It would be great if you can share some pics. Thanks again

sorry, I never think to take pictures until I've finished a repair. then I think, "I should have taken pictures of that..."

Amsterdam... anywhere near Utrecht? I worked for a company (back in the 80's) that had offices in Utrecht, and I would visit there several times a year.

 

[jremington59]

I'm about to start work on the push button that opens the rear glass. Someone gave it a good shot at some point and knocked it most of the way back into the hatch. I was able to grab it with needlenose and pull it back out, but I have to hold the outer black housing while I push in the button to open the glass.