Rear Door - Will Not Open From Outside

88ford05
DOOR - REAR - WILL NOT OPEN FROM Article No.
OUTSIDE OF VEHICLE 88-6-2


FORD: 1988 TEMPO

LINCOLN-MERCURY: 1988 TOPAZ

ISSUE: Rear doors that will not open from the outside of the vehicle may be caused by a broken outside door handle release link. If the outside door handle release link was installed incorrectly, a pre-load condition may cause the link to break at the base of the threads when the rear outside door handle is used.

ACTION: To correct this, install a new outside door handle release link. Refer to the following service procedure.

FIGURE 1:

1. Remove the rear door trim panel and watershield.

2. Snap the door latch rod retainer open and disconnect the rear door outside handle release link, Figure 1.

3. Disconnect the rear door latch actuating rod that attaches to the rear door outside handle, Figure 1.

NOTE: Do not disconnect rear door latch actuating rod that attaches to the rear door latch.

FIGURE 2:

4. Slide the broken outside door handle release link off the rear door latch actuating rod and throw it away, Figure 2.

5. Obtain a new outside door handle release link (E83Z-54264A88-A) and slide it onto the rear door actuating rod, Figure 2.

6. Reconnect the rear door latch actuating rod to the rear door outside handle.

7. Connect the rear door outside handle release link by snapping it into the door latch rod retainer. Make sure that when you snap the retainer closed you do not create a pre-load condition.

CAUTION: Do not push or pull the rear door outside release link while connecting it to the retainer.

8. Install the watershield and rear door trim panel.


PART NUMBER PART NAME CLASS

E83Z-54264A88-A Outside Door Handle C
Release Link - Two (2)
Required

OTHER APPLICABLE ARTICLES: None
WARRANTY STATUS: Eligible Under Basic Warranty Coverage
OPERATION: 880602A - One door
TIME: 0.5 Hr.

OPERATION: 880602AT - Both doors
TIME: 0.8 Hr.
DLR. CODING: Basic Part No. 70264A88
Code: 01