Ranger Supercab rear doors stuck

[-=db=-]

Hey all,
My '99 stepside supercab Ranger has a problem. The rear doors won't open. It looks like it's the lower lock mechanism that's not releasing. I loosened the door panel and used a mirror to see the mechanism inside the door. The cable is moving but it won't release the latch. I sprayed it all with WD-40 and left it soak for a few days but it didn't help.

Anyone run into this? How did you fix it?

The top of the rear doors seem to be releasing ok but I can't get them to close tightly so my "Door Ajar" is stuck on.

Thanks.

 

[YAMBIG]

I'm sure you must have tried pushing and pulling on the doors while trying the handle. I would next try to get to the latch mechanism with a screwdriver or small prybar and try to pop it manualy. If your 99 is the same as my 2000 which I'm pretty sure it is, you probably can't get the door panel all of the way off. Try going in through that rubber plug you can see on the bottom when you open up the front door. Out of curiosity,,,, how did they both doors get stuck in the first place? Sorry, but I had to ask!

 

[-=db=-]

Not really sure how they got stuck, it was like that when I bought it off my brother. It looks like the latch mechanism on the inside bottom of the rear doors have rusted in place with the doors closed (don't know how water got in). The cable that runs the latch moves but the latch won't release. If I can get the doors open, I'm hoping I can unbolt the mechanisms and replace them.
Also, it's hard to find a rear bumper for the stepside Rangers. Still, not bad for $500.