91 PAU back doors won't open

[M2DAR]

My back drivers side door will only open from the outside and I checked the child lock. The lock is very loose too. On the passengers side back door the door will not open outside or from the inside. The lock on there doesnt seem like its grabbing at all. Any ideas on how to remove the door skins and find the problem?

[Bassasasin]

Usually you used to remove the handles and releifs and pop the panel off.
Spring clips hold the panel on.. .

Need a body maintenance manual for sure. .

Or ask Loekee75..

Good Luck

[Loekee75]

Sounds like your door latch rods are disconnected inside the door. I had a problem with the back door in my '93 LeSabre when I first got it. The '91 PA door panels are held on with several plastic fasteners that pertrude through small holes in the door shell, and 5 screws. Remove the single screw found behind your chrome handle. (small torx driver needed here) The woodgrain piece with the door lock switch comes off now. Carefully slide the door's black handle screw covers inward these are the plastic ends that cover the strap (you'll notice they snap on and off , but CANNOT be removed from the black strap handle. When you slide the ends over a little, 2 large phillips head screws are found holding the strap handles to the door. Remove these, and pull the strap handle off. Next, using a small flathead screwdriver, place it between the black power window/ ashtray plate, on the side facing the front of the car. If you look down at this piece, you'll notice the small notch where the screwdriver should go. Carefully pry up and it'll pop right out. Disconnect the power window switch connector. Look down where it was and you'll see 2 small bolts holding the armrest area of the panel to the door. Remove these bolts, and the door panel should become fairly loose. Now, you said that your right side passenger door won't open from either side, so I'm afraid you'll have to do some "surgery" after you're done here; since it won't open, you cannot remove the 5th bolt, which is located behind the red warning light found at the end of the door. You'll have to do what I had to do and simply pull the door panel off while it's still closed. Doing this will yank the plastic fasteners out of the panel because you won't be able to disconnect them with a removal tool with the door being closed. That's OK, because chances are they'll slide right back into the panel even though they were popped out incorrectly. If not, JB Weld works wonders here. As for the 5th bolt, I simply took a srewdriver and pried the connecting bracket with the bolt off of the panel and never used it again. As long as you use all of the fasteners and aforementioned screws and bolts, the panel will go back on just fine without it. With the panel now removed, you'll see the handle rods inside; it's a tight sqeeze but try reaching in towards the latch and you may notice the handle rods are not connected properly, or not at ALL (which is usually the case) The rods are held to the latch/ door lock actuator assembly with plastic locking tabs. According to the service manual these locking tabs should be replaced whenever the rod is disconnected, due to the fact that they are designed to lock and secure the rod only once, and prying the rods off weakens them. I found a new package of these locking rings at AutoZone for about 4 bucks. Look inide the door opening and try holding the rod up near the latch assembly. You should see where the rod connects to, the opening where the locking tab is about 1/8 inch wide. Snap the rod inside the small openings, then make sure the LOCK rod is in the UP position. Try opening the door now. If if opens, then congratulations, you passed the test and you can invite all your friends over for a beer and then have them help you out with putting the panel back on (easy now because the door will be open!)
Good luck if you try fixing this problem yourself, I have had to do the same thing and that's how I was able to describe the whole process for you.

[Bassasasin]

Super response...

Thanks Loekee75....