98 explorer door handle/lock broken

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

kevin wrote:
> 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.

kevin wrote:
> Bob wrote:
>
>>kevin wrote:
>>
>>>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.
>
>
> 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.
>
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...)

Bob wrote:
>>>>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...)
What is a handle/latch? Is it the handle or the door latch. They're seperate
parts.

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monkeyboy via CarKB.com wrote:

> Bob wrote:
>
>>>>>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...)
>
> 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.