okiefarmer
New Member
- Joined
- March 26, 2015
- Messages
- 1
- Reaction score
- 0
- Year, Model & Trim Level
- 2012 Explorer
Background: So my wife's 2012 Explorer rear passenger door seems to be locked closed and cannot be opened from the inside nor the outside. I've seen several threads related to broken latches and springs in door mechanisms, but all start at the "remove the door panel" step. My problem is that I have a latched closed door.
She took it to the dealer today and was informed their 1st step would be for them to cut a hole in the door panel to unlatch the door. They would then open the door & remove the panel to repair the internal problem. So labor to destroy a panel, parts/labor to repair door mechanism, and also parts for a new door panel after paying them to destroy the original. I'm not thrilled with this approach but if it really is the only path then I prefer to use my cheap labor to destroy a door panel.
So question #1 - is there any way to unlatch that door without cutting a hole in the interior panel?
And question #2 - if the answer to Q1 is no, where should I cut out to best access the latch/lock mechanism?
She took it to the dealer today and was informed their 1st step would be for them to cut a hole in the door panel to unlatch the door. They would then open the door & remove the panel to repair the internal problem. So labor to destroy a panel, parts/labor to repair door mechanism, and also parts for a new door panel after paying them to destroy the original. I'm not thrilled with this approach but if it really is the only path then I prefer to use my cheap labor to destroy a door panel.
So question #1 - is there any way to unlatch that door without cutting a hole in the interior panel?
And question #2 - if the answer to Q1 is no, where should I cut out to best access the latch/lock mechanism?