I cant open the real tailgate door on my 95 odyssey, The locking button goes up and down OK, but when I pull on outside handle, nothing happens. I did just have the rear window,which had broken, replaced, so I wonder if they screwed up the latching mechanism, or if a piece of the broken glass got wedgedin somewhere. Is there a way to release from inside, or to get the panel off? Is there a drawing somewhere of the latching mechanism?

Sounds like the activator rod that goes from the door Handle to the latch is disconnected. You will have to get the door open to repair it and a good mechanic or tow truck driver can use a slim Jim kit to get the latch to release and then you can pull the door panel and find the problem.

The right side can be unlocked with the key, once opened, the left side can be opened. Mine, the left side requires me to push in slightly while ensuring the release handle is pulled to it's furthest point before it will unlatch. If the electrical contacts at the door frame are dirty, the door may not unlock when pushing the button up front thus requiring the key to be used in the rear door. If this is not the solution, the latch rods inside the door need adjusted which requires some mechanical expertise.

the tail gate needs to be opened from inside ask to the dentor he chk out the links of the tail gate locks

To Replace a Tailgate: Tools needed for the replacement:- Star shaped sockets- Flathead Screwdriver- Long Nose Pliers- Shop Light- Dremel w/ disc cutter for plastics, Remove the 2 outer long star shaped screws: Close Tailgate and pull down and out the handle bezel. The bezel itself its being held by 2 plastic anchors. To remove the handle from the tailgate we need to open it. Pull the linkage from both sides inward and the tailgate should open. Remove the 3 large star shaped screws-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Tacho Pro 2008

you have to take off the door panel and look. most often the linkage comes off of the outside handle; sometimes something is broken. It will be a mystery no more when you remove the door panel and look.

Ok this one is a tough one. If your handle on the outside does not work for some time, then the rod that attaches to the handle has most likely come loose. Your options are limited. I usually do not recommend the use of a slim jim. However in this case, a slim jim is an option. Inside your read door panel are three main rods. One rod moves the inside handle. The other rod moves the outside handle. The third rod is attached to the lock knob. Using the slim jim slide it into the door. Hook it onto one of the rods and pull up slightly. Try to see what is moving when you move the rod. If it is the inside handle or lock knob is moving, then find another rod that moves nothing. That will be the rod that should be attached to your outside handle. Lift up on that rod and it should open your door.
After you open the door, go ahead and take the time to fix your door, by removing the door panel and re-attaching the rod to the handle.

Let me know if you have any further questions.

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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.

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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.

I have the same problem with a 2001 Mitusbishi Montero XLS. Door handle is stuck and feels mushy when trying to open it. Is there a safety from the inside panel to open the cargo door? At this point, until its repaired, all I want to do is to be able to release the lock and open the door.

Mine just did the exact same thing. The latch may be moving freely because it is not hooked to the latching mechanism anymore. In my case, the handle had broken where the handle hooks to the rod that operates the mechanism. Go to the Ford dealer and buy a new handle. Here in S.C. it was $24. You can't get this at the parts houses. Start by removing the plastic "Ford" cover that is over the liscense plate lights. You then have to remove the aluminum rivets that hold the handle to the tailgate from the outside and remove the broken latch. Remove the pull handle loop on the interior side of the tailgate (2 screws), unsnap the inside plastic tailgate interior panel, and pull down the black plastic sheeting that is underneath the panel to make access to the mechanism inside of the tailgate. There is also a hard plastic cover that you will see that needs to be pulled loose to open another access hole. Install the new tailgate latch handle by sliding back into the mounting holes and attach with two 10-32 screws and nuts. The new handle will come with a new yellow rod attachment piece on the handle. You will see inside of the tailgate a small rod hanging down, most likeky it will have the same rod attachment piece as the one on the new handle. Note the position of the yellow piece on the rod, as you will connect the new piece in the same place. Once the rod is hooked up, relubricate the metal mechanism with a light machine oil, replace the black plastic cover, replace the black plastic sheeting, (secure with a small amount of duct tape), replace the tailgate interior panel, replace the pull handle loop, shut tailgate, replace "Ford" cover over lights, and you're done!

You can access it from the inside of the tail gate,there is a plate directly on the other side of the handle,Just take that plate off and reattach the rod mount or replace the handle if it's broken.

Here are some pix




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