1997 Ford Explorer AWD Logo
Posted on Jul 30, 2008

1997 ford explorer rear driver side door won't open

I have power door locks and suddenly one day I unlocked my doors with my key remote and this particular door wouldn't unlock. I am not sure if the door latch is broken or if it the power lock actuator that is the problem. In any case I tried taking the door panel off from the inside but I cannot figure out how to get the door open.

  • 8 more comments 
  • cdavisk Sep 24, 2008

    I have the same issue

  • saber34 Dec 01, 2008

    i have the exact same problem with my '97 explorer xlt. rear driver's side door lock will not unlock. can't get the door open with either the remote or hitting the unlock button. can the door panel be removed with the door shut tight?

  • ermadawn Jan 30, 2009

    i have the same problem, but i can not open my door from the inside or the out! how do i fix that?

  • kjh44 Mar 12, 2009

    I am having slightly the same issue except on my car, getting out from inside is fine but getting in from out is not working and the door handle itself has no spring in it anymore you lift it and it just falls back down. Argh! Any ideas on this?

  • matthew_kise
    matthew_kise Aug 03, 2012

    yes but it takes some work

  • matthew_kise
    matthew_kise Aug 03, 2012

    yes but it takes some work

  • Anonymous Mar 18, 2014

    inside door latch won't open door

  • Anonymous Mar 22, 2014

    Locks on rear doors are making sounds whn i use the master unlock switch

  • Anonymous Mar 26, 2014

    remote doesn't open driver door

  • Anonymous Mar 27, 2014

    key does not lock or unlock lock

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Anonymous

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  • Posted on Dec 16, 2008
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Pull the panel off starting at the top, you can just pry the window control apart, you don't need to unscrew that part. I sprayed white grease (lubriplate) all around the door latch inside there, and it unlatched easy.
After I put it back together, the knob still doesn't rise as high as the other side. I think the linkage is binding, and the connecting rod is bent. At least if the door won't unlock with the button you can do it by hand.

  • Anonymous Dec 16, 2008

    After posting, I went out and checked how its working, I had to unlock it by hand. I had noticed when it was apart that the lock knob went foward and up. It binds on the door panel. I put 3 in 1 oil around the knob, and it seems to work perfectly, so I poured oil around the other knobs as well.

  • Anonymous Apr 15, 2012

    no luck, good idea though
    now it is just stuck, the outside handle broke off the tiny plastic tab inside and even when i physically grab the rod and or lock near the striker area (inside the door itself) i will not release the door. I think this is potentially dangerous to not be able to open the door from inside to get out of the vehicle if necessary

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ford_67

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  • Posted on Aug 08, 2008
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There is the power lock actuator this connects to to the latch assembly. You also have the remote control link assembly that connects to the latch assembly. Hope this helps
1997 ford explorer rear driver side door won't ope - c8d86e6.jpg

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For Doors not getting open with remote or key problem,there are help links provided below.Click the link below to go through its procedure and troubleshoot the problem:----
drivers side front door will not open from inside or outside?

http://technoanswers.blogspot.com/2012/01/ford-f-350-crew-cab-drivers-side-front.html

----------

Car door will not close?
http://howtobyme.blogspot.com/2011/11/car-door-will-not-close.html

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All power door locks not working ?
http://howtobyme.blogspot.com/2011/11/all-power-door-locks-not-working-on_14.html

----------

Repairing car Door lock Actuator?
http://howtobyme.blogspot.com/2011/11/repairing-car-door-lock-actuator.html
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How to Access car door panel?
http://howtobyme.blogspot.com/2011/11/how-to-access-car-door-panel.html

----------

Vehicle door panel components?

http://howtobyme.blogspot.com/2011/11/vehicle-door-panel-components.html

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Truck Door will not close?

http://schematicsdiagram.blogspot.com/2011/12/ford-truck-door-will-not-close.html

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Where is Cars Door control Module located?

http://schematicsdiagram.blogspot.com/2011/12/where-is-cars-door-control-module.html

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Power door locks not working?

http://schematicsdiagram.blogspot.com/2011/12/power-door-locks-not-working.html

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Door ajar light stays on?

http://technoanswers.blogspot.com/2012/01/door-ajar-light-stays-on.html

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Front Door dis-assembly diagram?

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http://technoanswers.blogspot.com/2012/01/ford-f-350-crew-cab-drivers-side-front.html

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For Doors not getting open with remote or key problem,there are help links provided below.Click the link below to go through its procedure and troubleshoot the problem:----
drivers side front door will not open from inside or outside?

http://technoanswers.blogspot.com/2012/01/ford-f-350-crew-cab-drivers-side-front.html

----------

Car door will not close?
http://howtobyme.blogspot.com/2011/11/car-door-will-not-close.html

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All power door locks not working ?
http://howtobyme.blogspot.com/2011/11/all-power-door-locks-not-working-on_14.html

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Repairing car Door lock Actuator?
http://howtobyme.blogspot.com/2011/11/repairing-car-door-lock-actuator.html
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How to Access car door panel?
http://howtobyme.blogspot.com/2011/11/how-to-access-car-door-panel.html

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Vehicle door panel components?

http://howtobyme.blogspot.com/2011/11/vehicle-door-panel-components.html

---------
Truck Door will not close?

http://schematicsdiagram.blogspot.com/2011/12/ford-truck-door-will-not-close.html

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Where is Cars Door control Module located?

http://schematicsdiagram.blogspot.com/2011/12/where-is-cars-door-control-module.html

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Power door locks not working?

http://schematicsdiagram.blogspot.com/2011/12/power-door-locks-not-working.html

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Door ajar light stays on?

http://technoanswers.blogspot.com/2012/01/door-ajar-light-stays-on.html

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Door locks not working?

http://technoanswers.blogspot.com/2012/01/door-locks-not-working-on-ford-explorer.html

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Front Door dis-assembly diagram?

http://repairhelpcenter.blogspot.in/2012/02/front-door-dis-assembly-diagram-for.html

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Rear Door dis-assembly diagram?

http://repairhelpcenter.blogspot.in/2012/02/rear-door-dis-assembly-diagram-for.html

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http://schematicsdiagram.blogspot.in/2012/02/lexus-doors-will-not-open-with-remote.html

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http://repairhelpcenter.blogspot.com/2011/11/how-to-replace-hatch-on-acura-integra.html

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http://repairhelpcenter.blogspot.com/2011/11/how-to-replace-doors-on-audi-a4-and-vw.html

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drivers side front door will not open from inside or outside?

http://technoanswers.blogspot.com/2012/01/ford-f-350-crew-cab-drivers-side-front.html

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Car door will not close?
http://howtobyme.blogspot.com/2011/11/car-door-will-not-close.html

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Truck Door will not close?

http://schematicsdiagram.blogspot.com/2011/12/ford-truck-door-will-not-close.html

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Where is Cars Door control Module located?

http://schematicsdiagram.blogspot.com/2011/12/where-is-cars-door-control-module.html

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Power door locks not working?

http://schematicsdiagram.blogspot.com/2011/12/power-door-locks-not-working.html

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Door ajar light stays on?

http://technoanswers.blogspot.com/2012/01/door-ajar-light-stays-on.html

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Door locks not working?

http://technoanswers.blogspot.com/2012/01/door-locks-not-working-on-ford-explorer.html

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http://repairhelpcenter.blogspot.in/2012/02/front-door-dis-assembly-diagram-for.html

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Rear Door dis-assembly diagram?

http://repairhelpcenter.blogspot.in/2012/02/rear-door-dis-assembly-diagram-for.html

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How to test Power door locks?

http://repairhelpcenter.blogspot.in/2012/02/how-to-test-power-door-locks.html

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Doors will not open with Remote?

http://schematicsdiagram.blogspot.in/2012/02/lexus-doors-will-not-open-with-remote.html

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How to replace Door Hatch ?
http://repairhelpcenter.blogspot.com/2011/11/how-to-replace-hatch-on-acura-integra.html

---------

How to remove Doors?

http://repairhelpcenter.blogspot.com/2011/11/how-to-remove-doors-on-acura-integra.html

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How to Replace Doors?
http://repairhelpcenter.blogspot.com/2011/11/how-to-replace-doors-on-audi-a4-and-vw.html

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Remote will not unlock Rear door?
http://schematicsdiagram.blogspot.com/2011/12/remote-will-not-unlock-rear-door-on-gmc.html

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Door locks or windows not working on car?
http://schematicsdiagram.blogspot.com/2011/07/door-locks-or-windows-not-working-on.html

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For Doors not getting open with remote or key problem,there are help links provided below.Click the link below to go through its procedure and troubleshoot the problem:----
drivers side front door will not open from inside or outside?

http://technoanswers.blogspot.com/2012/01/ford-f-350-crew-cab-drivers-side-front.html

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Car door will not close?
http://howtobyme.blogspot.com/2011/11/car-door-will-not-close.html

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All power door locks not working ?
http://howtobyme.blogspot.com/2011/11/all-power-door-locks-not-working-on_14.html

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Where is Cars Door control Module located?

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http://schematicsdiagram.blogspot.com/2011/12/power-door-locks-not-working.html

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http://technoanswers.blogspot.com/2012/01/door-ajar-light-stays-on.html

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http://repairhelpcenter.blogspot.in/2012/02/rear-door-dis-assembly-diagram-for.html

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http://repairhelpcenter.blogspot.in/2012/02/how-to-test-power-door-locks.html

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Doors will not open with Remote?

http://schematicsdiagram.blogspot.in/2012/02/lexus-doors-will-not-open-with-remote.html

--------

How to replace Door Hatch ?
http://repairhelpcenter.blogspot.com/2011/11/how-to-replace-hatch-on-acura-integra.html

---------

How to remove Doors?

http://repairhelpcenter.blogspot.com/2011/11/how-to-remove-doors-on-acura-integra.html

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How to Replace Doors?
http://repairhelpcenter.blogspot.com/2011/11/how-to-replace-doors-on-audi-a4-and-vw.html

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Remote will not unlock Rear door?
http://schematicsdiagram.blogspot.com/2011/12/remote-will-not-unlock-rear-door-on-gmc.html

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Door locks or windows not working on car?
http://schematicsdiagram.blogspot.com/2011/07/door-locks-or-windows-not-working-on.html

--------

This will help.

Thanks.

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