Stuck cargo door

The rear cargo door is stuck on my wife's 02 Explorer Sport. The handle will not work. Does anyone know how to get the door open? I don't see how I can get the plastic panel off without breaking it. The wife is threatening to take it to the dealer and I don't even want to know what that will cost me!

Your's is probably different than my 92, but you should be able to get the liner off the same way. I've also removed a liner from a 99 Windstar with the door closed. It's probably not as hard as it looks. First, look around the liner and remove any screws. Chances are, there aren't any. I used a metal tent peg with a pair of vise grips attached to the long side of the L-shaped peg as a puller. If you can get underneath the panel somehow (it's not exactly easy) and just pull, you should be able to get it off. The panel is held in place with plastic studs. Some will probably break when you remove the panel, but they're cheap to replace. Once the panel starts to come loose, with the door closed, you'll have to twist and bend the panel to get it to come all the way out. Once it's out, I'm betting that you'll find a broken plastic connector. This connector holds a rod that attaches the outside handle to the latch assembly inside the door. At the very least, you could grab and pull the individual long rods running sideways to the side latches and open the door.

My experience is different than what you have, but I hope this helps.

Worked on a neighbors 99 the other day, and it's probably more closely related to your year. The inner liner is attached slightly different. You need to remove the screws holding the pull handle, and take the handle out. Then (on the 99) there's a screw under an oval access plate near the window latch. Open the window, and pop the liner out around the window ONLY (I used a flat blade screwdriver, but be careful). With the liner loose around the window, simply push UP and the liner should slide out of the retainers holding the liner to the door. You may have to use a little force with your hands to get it to break loose.

With the liner out, you should be able to see what the problem is with the door.

Worked on a neighbors 99 the other day, and it's probably more closely related to your year. The inner liner is attached slightly different. You need to remove the screws holding the pull handle, and take the handle out. Then (on the 99) there's a screw under an oval access plate near the window latch. Open the window, and pop the liner out around the window ONLY (I used a flat blade screwdriver, but be careful). With the liner loose around the window, simply push UP and the liner should slide out of the retainers holding the liner to the door. You may have to use a little force with your hands to get it to break loose.

With the liner out, you should be able to see what the problem is with the door.

Thanks. I figured it out last weekend and I didn't even break anything. I removed the screws for the pull handle then removed the liner, top first. I pulled down on the top of the liner releasing the pins that surround the window. I then opened the window and pulled up on the liner. It came right out. Like anything else, it's not hard if you know how. I found a plastic snap had come loose on the door handle linkage. It's fixed until next time. My wife is happy. That was the goal.

A worthy, yet unattainable goal it is.....