Door handle 1996 thunderbird

Hello Elly
You need to remove the inside panel of the door and there should be a metal rod that connects the inside door handle to the lock.
It sounds like the connecting rod slipped out of the hole. There is usually a white plastic piece that holds the rod in position. The rod pushes inside the center hole of the plastic piece and there is like an arm that clips onto the rod to keep the rod in place. This plastic piece arm could be broken or came loose which causes the rod to slip out.

The outside door handle broke ! you can only see what broke by taking the door panel off . It's plastic an they break ! $47.95 new 1Aauto . This video is just to show you what has to be done to get to it ! 2006 2011 Cadillac DTS Paint to Match Outside Door Handle Rear Driver Side How To Install Replace Outside Front Door Handle Cadillac DeVille 94 99...

using a "slim-Jim" any tow truck guy could open it.

Only way is to get a coat hanger and make a small hook on one end and try to slide it between the window and door panel and try to hook the door latch from inside the door.

A ford dealer will carry the proper fasteners for this concern. They are small plastic fasteners and are relatively inexpensive. Take one with you if you have it.

There's a short rod held in place with plastic fasteners that goes from the outside handle to the door latch. You need to take off the door panel upholstery panel to get to it. Sometimes you get lucky and only need to put it back in place. If the plastic part is missing, look if it's in the bottom of the door. It's a small piece, but is a dealer item. A automotive glass shop might have them but not likely.

I just fell into the same situation. My interior driver's door handle just does nothing all of a sudden. I went on the Mazda Forum website and came away with at least a temporary fix.
The lock switch can be used to open the door from the inside by pushing it the opposite way it's pushed when locking the door. In other words, the rear portion of the lock switch needs to be depressed and the front portion needs to be pulled away from the door. It may be difficult to do with the trim piece around the lock still on. The trim piece can be removed by pulling the small plastic cap away from the base (it's on a plastic hinge) off and unscrewing the holding screw underneath it. Pull the handle away from the door and the trim piece will come right off.
I'm using that as a temporary solution now until I get a new/used door assembly.
Hope that helps.

You should open the door first...take the interior trim panel off, access the "innards" of your door. It could be as simple as a clip that needs to be reattached or replaced or it could be the handle itself. Open up your door and move the handle and watch the attaching points to make sure it's all attached and in the correct number of pieces...
If you need help removing the door panel we can help you with that as well. (usually the screws are around the inside latch and behind the door courtesy lights.... let us know how it goes!
K

Door handle seems loose and not connected? Then the plastic clip broke inside the door. Take off the door panel, 3 screws, and door lock cap and plastic insert around inside door handle. pry around the bottom first, and go up, when you reach the top, pull up, please be carefull to not break any more plastic. you will see a squarish opening midway up the door toward the latch. reach in and pull a rod toward the opening. You see a broken piece of plastic on the tip? if so take it off and get the replacement part for it at an autoparts store, install the new one and your set. I have broke to many of these so i ended up bending the end of the rod and using a nut to hold it in.:]

Either a piece broke or the pullrod came off. Either way... you'll have to remove the interior door panel to repair.