back door locks

[dcmaynard]

I have a 96 explorer eddie bauer and I know that it has a safty feature that locks the doors when I start to drive. but the back doors I cant open until I hit the unlock button. But all I have to do in the front is pull up on the handle can anyone tell me why this is?

[Baranis]

Originally Posted by dcmaynard

I have a 96 explorer eddie bauer and I know that it has a safty feature that locks the doors when I start to drive. but the back doors I cant open until I hit the unlock button. But all I have to do in the front is pull up on the handle can anyone tell me why this is?

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This is normal operation of the Explorer door lock system on your
year model. I have a 2001 XLT, and it has the same feature.
The reason that your inside door latch release unlocks the door
is a safety feature in case the vehilcle has no battery electric current.
If you notice, your key fob when you hit unlock once only unlocks
the drivers door only, but if you hit unlock twice it will unlock all locks
including the liftgate. You only have to hit lock once to lock all latches.
Once the vehicle starts moving all locks are activated.
Now, If you stop to let persons from the 2nd row back doors, you
will have to manualy use the master switch in the dirvers door to
unlock the rear doors. But the rear door lock knobs stand taller than
the front so it is possible to unlock the rear doors using the manual
unlock knob.
If child lock on the rear door latch is activated, unlock the rear door or doors by master unlock switch or use the manual unlock knobs
on the rear door but the door will have to be open by the outside
door handle.