Hello,
When I closed my small door today behind the passenger's side on my 97 F150 I heard something like a small part come loose inside. After I got home later the small door will not open. Both latches move but it will not unlock. Obviosuly something came loose inside.

My question is how do I get the plastic door panel off to see the linkages with the door closed? The side lever is riveted on. Should I grind these rivets off to try to get at the mechanism? I tried a search but was not able to find anything on this topic. Any advice or picture links is appreciated. Thank you.

Alex

 

i would try and get into the door through the plastic panel if you can. is it possible to manually pop the door open any way???

 

The door cannot be opened. Both latches move fully but the door will not budge. Removing the plastic door panels with the door closed is what I am trying to figure out doing? I don't see any screws or tabs visible anywhere.

 

The panel has a few screws and snaps that just push into door. I think the screws go though where handle on panel is. I have had those doors that are just frozen up and basically it feels like everything unlatches but the latch is frozen. I just have someone hold the handle and then kick the door from the inside.

 

I have the same problem. Mine is also a 97. On mine I think the cable is broke going to the top latch. The bottom latch works. I have not been able to get the door panel off to get to the cable to open the door. Maybe grinding the rivets off would get me in to the door to open it. Alex, pass on what works for you. Thanks Norm

 

After careful examination figured out how to get the door panel off with the door still closed. The top piece where the window is comes of first. Remove the two window latch screws first. Then work your way around the front door edge and there are three pressure fit latches. Pry around the panel edge gently with a broad blade screwdriver in the area where each latch is and they will pop off. Then remove the top piece entirely. There are one or two more pressure latches on the back side also.

The bottom panel is real easy. Remove the three screws and nut on the top of the panel and the whole assembly then lifts up and out. By peeling back carefully the vapor barrier you can see the latch mechanism completely and where the top lock cable hooks in. Removing the door speaker gives you even more access.

On mine the plastic support mechanism for the top lock cable sheath broke and this is what keeps the cable sheath from moving while the cable inside slides back and forth. I called just one Ford dealer this mprning and when I told him I just needed the plastic end he said they only sell the complete latch mechanism which was $92.00.

I have tried tie wrapping the cable sheath but I can't get it to work reliably. If I can't figure out a way to rig this to work I may have to buy the whole mechanism which seems like a waste. Now at least I left the cable loose and can open the door by just pulling on the cable with my hands for the time being.

Alex

P.S. There is no need to grind the rivets off the side latch. This would have been a waste of time and would not have helped at all.

 

Thanks Alex. I going to give it a try this afternoon.

 

Found this also. Looks like my ford dealer is full of it. click on the link below for the part. Part 13 in the illustration which is $35.00. A little easier to swallow.

http://www.directfordparts.com/partlocator/index.cfm?action=getLocator&siteid=214290&chapter= DR2MA97&appSectionid=2763&groupid=51895&subgroupid =3998&componentid=28258&make=10&model=F%2D150&year =1997&graphicID=MA97620&callout=13&catalogid=2

Alex

 

926-111 is the part number to get the four end pieces for the cables. No need to buy the whole cable. The old ones have worn out and will not hold the cable in place for the pressure to move the latch.

There is a good video on you tube that shows hoe to remove the cables and put on the new spacers.

 

youtube has video's of 3rd door cables and so forth, it's how I fixed mine. Only took little blue aluminum things with slot cut in them, cause the factory plastic things (don't know what they're called) wear out and your cables just move in the door shell and won't pull latches open.