rear door latch

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Oct 27, 2011 | 01:30 PM

Conanski

Thread Starter

FTE Legend

Joined: Jun 2006

Posts: 31,930

Likes: 1,499

From: Ottawa, Ontario

rear door latch

Hey guys, we just picked up a 2004 ranger and have one problem I can't solve. The truck was sitting for about a year before we got it and now the lower rear door latches are completely seized.. both sides. I have pulled the rubber plug at the bottom of the door and have drowned the latch mechanism with penetrating oil but they still won't budge. Cables look fine and are still attached, I can see the cable trying to do something as I exercise the handle but since it's plastic I can't pull that hard.. don't want to break it like the tailgate handle.

Since when is plastic a good idea for a latch handle?
Anyway.. can anybody tell me how this mechanism works, is there something I can push or pull on with a screwdriver or wire from the access hole on the front/bottom of the door? Just another thought... there isn't a lock on these doors is there?

Oct 27, 2011 | 09:18 PM

Furyus1

Postmaster

Joined: Dec 2008

Posts: 3,940

Likes: 8

From: Southern Oregon Coast

When I bought my '04, the latches on the bottom of the rear doors were "latched" as if someone manually pushed the latches in before shutting the doors - left a gap along the bottom edge of both doors. I had to lift up on the handle and keep it lifted while I worked the latches back out by hand. Haven't had a problem with it since...

No, they don't lock - they don't need to.

I agree about the plastic handles...