1999 Astro van back door

BOB1950MUSIC

MEMBER
1999 ALL OTHER MAKES ALL OTHER MODELS

The back door of the van has electric locks. When I push the button to open the upper door ( the van has the split lower doors and the upper single lift door) the locking mechanism on the left side does not release. I know the little arm that pulls the lock open has pulled out of its mount. I fixed it temporarily 2 years ago. My BIG question is, how do I get the inside panel off to get to the locking part while the back door is closed. For the life of me I don't remeber how I did it before. HELP
Thanks

4 Replies

2CARPRO JACK

MECHANIC
11,533 POSTS

Does either side open? Crawl through from the front, might have to get a little rough with the panel to pop it off. Thats one where it would be easier to see exactly what it is we are doing.

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Sunday, March 25th, 2007 AT 7:52 AM

PECOS

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I'm having the exact same problem with my '98 astro. Left side will not unlock but right side does. With the hatch closed, there are only 2 trim panel screws accessible out of several. I'm at a loss as to how to get it off without destroying the panel. There is no handle inside the van, and the outside handle is just a pushbutton. The hatch must be opened to open the two swing-out doors. Catch-22 if I ever saw one. Please help getting this open.

Pecos

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Monday, April 23rd, 2007 AT 7:12 AM

PECOS

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More info. These vans have a hatch door that raises and two swing-out doors. My problem is that the left side of the hatch, which unlocks electronically, will not unlock. The right side does. You can hear the lock mechanism clicking when you push the button. I think it's the same problem as the original poster has.
Can't get to anything from outside, and inside there's no handle and only two trim panel screws are accessible. Several aren't unless the hatch is open.

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Monday, April 23rd, 2007 AT 7:27 AM

PECOS

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OK I figured it out! From the inside of the van, pry off the little plastic caps from the ends of the door pull handle. Underneath them are a couple of 10mm bolts. Take them out and the handle assembly comes off. Inside is a brass-looking latch with a hole in it (with a plastic bushing). Lying on the ledge underneath this, is the heavy gauge wire pull. Stick the bent end of the wire pull into the pastic bushing, put the handle assembly back on and you're done. 5 minutes tops! Good luck!

Pecos

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Monday, April 23rd, 2007 AT 5:37 PM