Door handle removal

I am trying to remove the left front outside door handle on a 97 Taurus. I have removed the inside panel and the two screws holding the handle on the car. Haynes manual says pull out to access the control rod. It is not possible to pull out the handle far enough to turn the handle to disengage the handle from the "Z" hook on the end of the rod. It looks like the rod will have to be released from the latch where it is threaded into a yellow plastic fitting. There must be some way to release this plastic "nut" from the latch but I certainly do not see any way. The only other options are to drill out the hinge pin at the handle or break the yellow plastic piece and replace it. I must be missing something. Haynes just says release the rod but how?

The plastic part you are talking about will snap open with a small screwdriver or something small enough to pry it open. Then it will just snap back together.

Finally released the clip. I had to push a small screw driver through the weather seal mount hole to get to the clip. They certainly did not leave enough room to get my hand and a screw driver in there.