I'm replacing my third door handle release on my 2003 extended cab and cannot get the lower latch to release. I've removed all the trim and the seat belt and have reasonable access through the interior of the door but cannot figure out how to release the latch and open the door? By lifting the rod a little I can see a hooked piece raise up off what looks to be a cogged wheel but nothing else happens. Have also soaked the area with penetrating oil. Any hints, tricks of the trade?

Hi Roberta, here's the instructions on how to remove your door panel. I have to wonder though on why you are removing it, my guess is you window doesn't roll up or down and your replacing the regulator. Any way here goes.

REMOVAL

1. Remove the plug and remove screw attaching door pull cup to inner door panel.
2. Remove switch bezel and disconnect power window/memory switch.
3. Remove screws attaching trim panel to door from below map pocket.
4. If equipped, remove window crank. (Refer to 23 - BODY/DOOR - FRONT/WINDOW CRANK - REMOVAL)
5. Remove screw holding door trim to door panel from behind inside latch release handle .
6. Disengage clips attaching door trim to door frame around perimeter of panel.
7. Lift trim panel upward to disengage flange from inner belt molding at top of door.
8. Tilt top of trim panel away from door to gain access to latch linkage.
9. Disengage clip attaching linkage rod to inside latch release handle (INSIDE DOOR HANDLE LINKAGE).
10. Separate linkage rod from latch handle.
11. Disconnect the power door switch, courtesy lamp electrical connectors.
12. Remove front door trim panel from vehicle.

Hope this helps and have an awesome day Roberta!

According with the factory manual...

23 - Body/Door - Front/PANEL, Door Trim/Description

DESCRIPTION
Door trim modules include the hardware, window regulators, latch, remote handle and links, speakers and wiring harness. In addition to providing manufacturing efficiencies, the door modules benefit the customer too. Having all the parts assembled into a module improves build accuracy and fit and finish between the components and trim as a result of greater communication between the release engineers and suppliers.

Lower door trim (from the beltline down) is molded polypropylene. The door trim is two-tone with a darker color matching the instrument panel in the upper third and a lighter shade for the lower two-thirds, including the bolster and substrate.

2. Remove speaker (5),
3. Remove the trim screws (4) from the speaker opening.
4. Remove the trim cap (6) and the screw (1) at the inside handle.
5. Using a trim stick C-4755 or equivalent, remove the outside mirror trim (2).
6. Remove the door glass
7. Disconnect the latch linkages (1 and 2).
8. Remove the latch screws (4).
9. Disconnect main harness connector.
10. Remove screws and separate harness from door
11. Remove three upper bolts (1).
12. Lift the module (1) up off of the four trim hooks (3) and the lower regulator screws (4).
13. Pull the front of the trim module (1) out from the door and forward to remove the latch.

Check attached images.

Hope helps.

Answer
FRONT DOOR TRIM PANEL
REMOVAL
Using a trim stick (available from parts stores), pry courtesy lamp from door trim.
Disconnect wire connector from courtesy lamp.
If equipped, remove screws attaching door assist handle to inner door panel.
If equipped, remove screw attaching door pull cup to inner door panel.
If equipped, remove screws attaching trim panel to door from below map pocket.
If equipped, remove window crank.
Using a trim stick, remove screw cover from switch panel.
Remove screws attaching switch panel to door trim.
Remove power accessary switch from door trim Front Door Switch Panel
Disconnect power switch from wire connector.
If equipped, using a small, flat bladed pry tool, remove memory seat/mirror switch and disconnect wire connector Memory Seat/Mirror Switch
If equipped, remove screw holding door trim to door panel from behind inside latch release handle.
Disengage clips attaching door trim to door frame around perimeter of panel Front Door Trim Panel
Lift trim panel upward to disengage flange from inner belt molding at top of door.
Tilt top of trim panel away from door to gain access to latch linkage.
Disengage clip attaching linkage rod to inside latch release handle Inside Door Handle Linkage
Separate linkage rod from latch handle.
Remove front door trim panel from vehicle.
INSTALLATION
Hold top of trim panel away from door to gain access to latch linkage.
Place linkage rod in position on latch handle.
Engage clip to hold linkage rod to inside latch release handle.
Place front door trim panel in position on door.
Install trim panel into inner belt molding at top of door.
Install clips to attach door trim to door frame around perimeter of panel.
If equipped, install screw to attach door trim to door panel behind inside latch release handle.
If equipped, connect power switch into wire connector.
Place power accessary switch in position on door trim.
Connect wire connector into memory seat/mirror switch and install switch into trim panel.
Install screws to attach accessary switch panel to door trim.
Install screw cover into switch panel.
If equipped, install window crank.
If equipped, install screws to attach trim panel to door inside map pocket.
If equipped, install screw to attach door pull cup to inner door panel.
If equipped, install screws to attach door assist handle to inner door panel.
Connect wire connector into courtesy lamp.
Install lamp in door trim.

1. Remove the plug and remove screw attaching door pull cup to inner door panel.
2. Remove the switch bezel and then disconnect the power window-memory switch.
3. Now you need to remove the screws attaching the trim panel to the door from below map pocket.
4. If you have a window crank remove this now.
5. Remove the screw holding the door trim to the door panel from behind -inside latch release handle .
6. Now disengage the clips attaching the door trim to the door frame around the outside of the panel.
7. Lift the trim panel upward to disengage the flange from the inner belt molding at the top of the door.
8. Now tilt the top of trim panel away from door to gain access to the linkage on the latch.
9. Now you need to disengage the clip that attaches the linkage rod to the inside latch release handle - this is the inside door handle linkage.
10. Now just separate the linkage rod from the latch handle.
11. Now you disconnect the power door switch and the courtesy lamp connectors.
12. Now you can remove the door trim panel up and out.

• Hope this helps and thank you for using FixYa.

Regards, Tony

Technical Instructions
See picture below
1. Remove door trim panel and water shield per
NOTE: Place a strip of masking tape along the edge of door before removing trim panel to prevent scratching the door with the trim panel removal tool.

2. Snap cable housing end from slot on inside door handle assembly and disconnect cable.
NOTE: Use care to prevent bending of cable housing retainer bracket.

3. Remove rear window channel retaining bolt to allow access to door latch.

4. Position a block (screwdriver handle) between the latch and the door inner panel and snap the cable housing end out of slot (towards inner panel) on door latch assembly and disconnect cable at latch.
NOTE: Use care when removing cable housing to avoid bending of the latch. Discard cable.

5. Hook up new cable at latch and snap cable housing end into slot.
NOTE: Make sure the cable housing is fully seated in the slot.

6. Apply a light film of Teflon grease to the barrel end of the cable. See Figure A.

7. Install return spring. See Figure A.
NOTE: Ensure that the push button rod is located between the spring and the door inner panel.

8. Install foam block at latch. See Figure A.

9. Position water shield over the return spring and install push pin to retain upper portion of water shield. See Figure B.
NOTE: Push pin goes in the same hole as the return spring.

10. Clean hands of grease before performing step 11.

11. Remove protective backing along the lower edges only of the water shield. See Figure A.

12. Install latch water shield at door latch. Pinch the exposed adhesive surfaces together to secure the water shield. Check to insure water shield is not showing through the door shut-face latch access hole. See Figure B.

13. Attach cable to inside door handle assembly and snap cable housing into slot.
NOTE: Make sure the cable housing is fully seated.

14. Check the gap as shown in remote control using a 3/16 drill bit shank end. The drill bit shank should fit in the gap without any clearance and a tight fit is preferred. See Figure C.

15. If the drill bit is too loose or does not fit, adjust by bending the cable bracket as required.

16. Place plastic wedge on remote bracket as shown. Wedge must fit with at least a light press fit for retention. See Figure D.

17. After installation, Apply a dab of special Teflon grease, supplied with the service cable to cable housing openings at inside handle end. The grease should surround and contact the cable all the way around, to seal the opening between the cable and the cable housing.

18. Check all latch functions to insure correct assembly of latch system. If the inside handle does not release properly, replace the inside handle remote release mechanism.

19. Reposition and install trim panel using new push pins if required.

the inner part of the release handle is broken. the door trim panel will need to be removed to verify this.

Tailgate latch, handle and lock

• Open the tailgate.
• Remove the two bolts and detach the door stop.
• Lower the tailgate and remove the tailgate access cover.
• Disconnect the control rods.
• Detach the retaining nuts and remove the handle and lock cylinder assembly from the tailgate.

...
Door trim panels

• Disconnect the cable(s) from the negative battery terminal(s).
• On manual window equipped models, pull the window crank cover aside, remove the screw and detach the handle.
• On the front door of power window equipped models Pry up on the retaining clip at the front edge of the armrest and lift the armrest switch control plate out and disconnect the electrical connections,then remove the retaining bolt from the opening.
• Use a small screwdriver to pry off the courtesy light cover for access to the trim panel retaining bolt.
• Carefully pry off the mirror trim panel from above the front edge of the door panel.
• Once all of the bolts are removed, remove the trim panel by gently pullingit up and out .Detach the courtesy light bulb housing from the panel.
• For access to the inner door components, remove the speaker (if it would interfere with watershield removal) and the screws from the trim piece at the lower trailing corner of the door, then carefully peel the watershield from the door.
• Remove the screws securing the latch.
• Working through the large access hole, position the latch as necessary to disconnect the electrical connector and disengage the outside door handle and outside lock cylinder to latch rods and the inside handle-to-Iatch cable.
• Detach the locking rods by unsnapping The remaining outside handle retaining nut can be reached through the access hole in the door frame and the upper striker the portionof the plastic clip engaging the connecting rod, then pulling the rod out of its locating hole.
• Position the latch as necessary to disengage the door lock actuator hook. Detach the cable cover and disconnect the cable from the latch. Remove the latch assembly from the door.

after u remove the bolts that hold it to the window regulator tip the window towards the front of the door and the top rear corner of the window should pop out and then u just lift hte window out,hope this helps

remove inner door panel & check linkage to lower latch. if connected then watch linkage while moving handle, if linkage seems to bow or bend then lower lacth is frozen & needs to be replaced.

Section 501-14A: Handles, Locks, Latches and Mechanisms 1997 F-150, F-250 Workshop Manual REMOVAL AND INSTALLATION Latch, Rear Door — Upper Removal

1. Remove the rear door trim panel; refer to Section 501-05 .

1. Remove the rear door radio speaker.
   1. Remove the four radio speaker screws.
   1. Disconnect the electrical connector.
   1. Remove the rear door radio speaker.

1. Carefully peel off the rear door watershield.

1. Disconnect the upper rear door latch cable.
   1. Lift the clip.
   1. Pull to release the cable from its seated position.

1. Remove the upper rear door latch.
   1. Remove the three screws.
   1. Pull the upper rear door latch and the cable up through the door latch opening.