Rear doors won't open

[bad60biscayne]

I purchased a 99 Astro LS and don't know much about it yet . I can't get the key to work the rear doors. It works all the other doors just fine. Is there a different key for the rear? I only have the one key. I also inadvertantly locked the doors (long story) and now i can't get them open because the unlock button on the front door makes a noise at the rear solenoid when you push it but it doesn't seem to move the rod inside to open it! Help!!!

[dhspring]

My 2001 Astro has only one key and it unlocks both driver and passenger doors plus the rear door. I had to have the electronic latch replaced already it quit working. But your key should unlock the rear door. ALso to unlock the rear door, it operates off the electric door locks, to unlock, hit unlock driver/pass door and the rear is also unlocked, and reverse to lock. I think those rear door mechanisms must not be all that reliable.

[guyonearth]

These vans, like most, are prone to rear door latch problems. You probably have a corroded latch that can't be released by the lock, or, the lock cylinder itself is corroded. I have seen both conditions. Many people hardly ever open the back doors, which explains why they tend to seize up. Also, when they do seize, it's easy to bend the actuator rods or pop them out inside the door. You may have to pull the panels off inside to get access to the latches. Be sure to lubricate the one on the bottom of the left door, it always rusts solid. Since there is a latch at the top of the left door, many vans end up with a jammed lower latch that just wedges against the bottom sill. If your door seems to not be "hooked" at the bottom when closed, that's probably what's wrong.

[dnddad1]

We have a 1998 Astro which had the rear hatch problem. Upon removing the inside pull handle and cover, you should be able to get to the rods that go from the key switch to the latches themselves. We found one of our rod's popped out of the switch linkage (a plastic type holder). By pulling on the rods with some pliers, you should be able to open the hatch. Once you have the hatch open, you need to remove the entire hatch inside panel (be carefull as it breaks easy. Some screws, some snaps). I popped my rod back in and was OK for a couple of months when it did it again (I believe it all started from to many door slams in the past!). I put the rod back in again and dabbed some JB Weld on the tip so that it could not pop out again. So far so good! GOOD LUCK!