Hey all, new here. I just bought a 98 for 150 econoline cargovan. The rear door wouldn't open. The dealership said I needed a new handle. So I bought and installed a new handle to find out the key didn't turn in the lock, so I had a locksmith clean it out and make it work. Now when I try to hook the lock on the handle/license plate frame up to the lock bar, there is way too much play in the up and down movement of the lock bar when I turn the key. As a result, I can lock the door with my keys, but I cannot unlock it. It seems as though there should be a clip or something holding the ball atop the bar in place to keep it from sliding, but there is not. Any advice on how I could fix this? Any help would be greatly appreciated.

 

Are all the retaining clips in good shape? Might try cleaning up the latch mechanism and lubricating this. Or was that part of the handle replacement?

 

Yeah, the handle is all new and works great. I think the problem has to do with the rod that fits through the lock lever on the bottom and through the latch mechanism on the top. It just sort of slides up and down until the bend in the bar goes up far enough to push the lock up. Which is way too far for the lock lever to push it.