2004 Freestar rear lift gate handle
#172
You do not have to remove anything off the door. This worked for me ,hope it works for you.i did this a long time ago so i do not remember exactly which way it goes(left or right, so figure that out yourself)
-take a look inside the holes where handle goes, i used the left side hole.
-on the left inner wall, there is a piece that will slide in and out (actually is left to right on the inside). I used a sod staple to move it in and out, you can use a long nail or a small screwdriver. This piece will hold or lacht the handle.
-the trick here is how to latch it while the handle is inside for there is no room for the nail to slide it and latch it.
-use a string (one that is very flexible thin and strong) and hold it on that inner piece while you slide the handle in. (hold the two ends together and place the loop inside) make sure the 2 ends point out towards the side that the piece has to move.
- once the hanlde is inside and the string in place, pull both ends of the string so it will slide that piece and latch the handle. And that is it. It took me 4 or 5 attempts but i did get it fixed, hope you can figure it out and do it in a couple tries.
This will save you 300 dollars tha the dealer wanted for a new handle (before i realized it was not broken and i could do it myself) and for matching the paint on the vehicle.good luck!!!
-take a look inside the holes where handle goes, i used the left side hole.
-on the left inner wall, there is a piece that will slide in and out (actually is left to right on the inside). I used a sod staple to move it in and out, you can use a long nail or a small screwdriver. This piece will hold or lacht the handle.
-the trick here is how to latch it while the handle is inside for there is no room for the nail to slide it and latch it.
-use a string (one that is very flexible thin and strong) and hold it on that inner piece while you slide the handle in. (hold the two ends together and place the loop inside) make sure the 2 ends point out towards the side that the piece has to move.
- once the hanlde is inside and the string in place, pull both ends of the string so it will slide that piece and latch the handle. And that is it. It took me 4 or 5 attempts but i did get it fixed, hope you can figure it out and do it in a couple tries.
This will save you 300 dollars tha the dealer wanted for a new handle (before i realized it was not broken and i could do it myself) and for matching the paint on the vehicle.good luck!!!
#174
Liftgate won't open on our 2004 Freestar
We are having a problem with the lock mechanism on our 2004 Freestar also. It has auto locks with the manual rear door close. You unlock the doors, and pull on the hatch latch to no avail. It's like the lock is jammed.
I have popped out the small square piece in the inside panel, but am sure what to do to manually release the latch, and am not sure if I can remove the entire inside panel while the door is closed.
If you have any instructions for a fix that you can share?
Thanks much!
I have popped out the small square piece in the inside panel, but am sure what to do to manually release the latch, and am not sure if I can remove the entire inside panel while the door is closed.
If you have any instructions for a fix that you can share?
Thanks much!
Last edited by Hayapower; 05-25-2012 at 11:22 AM.