Rear Doors - Only Open Inside/Outside Same Time?

[ExpyAlaDocious]

2005 Expedition.
Both rear doors don't open from the outside or inside by themselves, but DO open ONLY when you try to open on the inside AND outside at the same time. I pulled the door panel off, and the cables are seated well in the plastic/holder thing, so that's not the issue. I'm not sure if replacing the exterior door handles will fix the problem?
Any insights?
Thank you!

 

[whtbronco]

Hmm, I'm not familiar with this issue. Sounds to me like the latch needs a little more pressure or needs to be pulled further than either handle can do independently. Have you considered trying to lubricate the latch assembly? Any spray lubricant should do, but I wouldn't use much. My preference is silicone spray since it dries.

Short of that it may take some additional troubleshooting to identify the cause. I keep wondering if it's possible the child safety lock is not fully seated in either direction, like stuck in the middle. The problem is both doors makes that less likely.

 

[ExpyAlaDocious]

I feel like it's the exterior door handle from the kids yanking on it to open the door...

 

[whtbronco]

It could be I suppose, but you should find the rod loose I think. My 3 kids yanked on those door handles an awful lot of times in the 297k we've put on out 2004.

It's just odd to me that it's both doors at the same time. Kinda strange to me.

 

[ExpyAlaDocious]

Well, wasn't at the same time, but yes- within a month or two of each other - so I agree, very strange. I think you're right, probably not the handles themselves. Can you give a little more description as to what you think the problem might be with them? I know you suggested to lube the latch assembly, check the child safety locks- but with the rod, what do I look for exactly and how do you 'tighten it'?

Thank you for all your help!

 

[whtbronco]

I have not worked on the internals of our doors much, but they seem fairly common to the doors I have worked on. If you think the issue is the exterior handle take a close look at the plastic retainers that the lock and latch release rods clip into, green and black in the lower right corner of the pic below. You may have a broken clip or it's simply just worn out, that's been my experience. As a short term resolution I have covered the rod ends with heat shrink(1-2 layers) to take up the additional space in the plastic clips. It won't last, but it will prove out the failure and give you time to pick up a replacement. Used may be the only way to get clips or the entire door handle such as the one on eBay linked below.

Door hand on eBay.
Door latch assembly.



In the end it comes down to opening the door, pulling on the individual rods to identify which one/s release the latch and then find the play or blocker preventing the rod from fully releasing the latch. I'm not sure it's likely, but ya know it could just be a wire bundle that came loose and is preventing the latch release rods from moving as far as they need to.

 

[ExpyAlaDocious]

Very good info. Thank you soo much, I'll give it a shot!