98 explorer door handle/lock broken

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kevin - 12 Jul 2006 18:50 GMT

I have a 98 explorer & the driver side door handle won't work & the key
will not open it & the door will not open at all. They are manual locks
not automatic. I went to napa & they said maybe a rod inside the door
needed replacing but it was a dealer part. Does anyone know what part I
need & how to fix the door? thanks

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Bob - 12 Jul 2006 20:29 GMT

> I have a 98 explorer & the driver side door handle won't work & the key
> will not open it & the door will not open at all. They are manual locks
> not automatic. I went to napa & they said maybe a rod inside the door
> needed replacing but it was a dealer part. Does anyone know what part I
> need & how to fix the door? thanks

Can you open the door from the inside? Does the outside handle have any
spring tension or is it totally loose? I had a similar problem (also
manual locks) and it was the door handle mechanism itself. The springs
break. Cost about $35 for a new one from Ford. Only way i could open the
door to fix it was with a slim jim. Works great now with new handle/latch.

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kevin - 12 Jul 2006 21:35 GMT

> > I have a 98 explorer & the driver side door handle won't work & the key
> > will not open it & the door will not open at all. They are manual locks
[quoted text clipped - 7 lines]
> break. Cost about $35 for a new one from Ford. Only way i could open the
> door to fix it was with a slim jim. Works great now with new handle/latch.

no it won't open from inside either, when you open outside its totally
loose-no tension at all & then inside handle popped out of its place
from pulling so hard.

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Bob - 12 Jul 2006 22:40 GMT

>>>I have a 98 explorer & the driver side door handle won't work & the key
>>>will not open it & the door will not open at all. They are manual locks
[quoted text clipped - 11 lines]
> loose-no tension at all & then inside handle popped out of its place
> from pulling so hard.

Sure sounds like the same problem I had. A new handle/latch fixed it.
Not real easy to replace but do-able. First you've got to slim jim the
door open. Then remove the interior panel to gain access to remove the
old handle/latch. Good Luck. I also replaced the saggy hinge pins and
bushings while I was at it, the door works like new now. (except for
broken cheap plastic arm rest support...)

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monkeyboy - 13 Jul 2006 03:57 GMT

>>>>I have a 98 explorer & the driver side door handle won't work & the key
>>>>will not open it & the door will not open at all. They are manual locks
[quoted text clipped - 8 lines]
>bushings while I was at it, the door works like new now. (except for
>broken cheap plastic arm rest support...)

What is a handle/latch? Is it the handle or the door latch. They're seperate
parts.

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Bob - 13 Jul 2006 04:30 GMT

>>>>>I have a 98 explorer & the driver side door handle won't work & the key
>>>>>will not open it & the door will not open at all. They are manual locks
[quoted text clipped - 13 lines]
> What is a handle/latch? Is it the handle or the door latch. They're seperate
> parts.

Sorry, should have said handle and latch, 2 separate parts.

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