08-06-2012, 02:04 PM
I went out to the coach this afternoon to start cutting lumber to convert over from the fluorescent lights to led strip lights and found the door would not open. The door pull would come all the way up but would not release the latch.
I called Newell and they suggested I crawl in through a window. I am security conscience so all of the windows are locked. So Mike Gerring said I would likely have to have one of the windshields removed.
Not liking those answers, I took my Dremel with a metal cut off wheel and cut the arm off of the left side of the handle, reached in with long needle nose pliers, grabbed the part of the arm I cut off, and pulled down HARD. It worked!! The latch released and I was able to get the door open. To insure the door didn't relock while I await shipment of a new door handle, I removed the striker bolt from the door jam.
Newell has a few of these door handles in stock. They are a scant $184.28. They are from a 1982-1987 Lincoln Continental but are typically not listed at Ford/Lincoln dealers as being available. The Ford part number is E25Y5422404A with Alternate Part Number 1ADHE00082 per Chuck Clark at Newell.
I found 1 on Ebay and ordered it. We will see. I hope the door handle was the issue. I was surprised how far down I had to pull to get the door to release. At least now I have access to the inside of the door to replace any broken parts.
I called Newell and they suggested I crawl in through a window. I am security conscience so all of the windows are locked. So Mike Gerring said I would likely have to have one of the windshields removed.
Not liking those answers, I took my Dremel with a metal cut off wheel and cut the arm off of the left side of the handle, reached in with long needle nose pliers, grabbed the part of the arm I cut off, and pulled down HARD. It worked!! The latch released and I was able to get the door open. To insure the door didn't relock while I await shipment of a new door handle, I removed the striker bolt from the door jam.
Newell has a few of these door handles in stock. They are a scant $184.28. They are from a 1982-1987 Lincoln Continental but are typically not listed at Ford/Lincoln dealers as being available. The Ford part number is E25Y5422404A with Alternate Part Number 1ADHE00082 per Chuck Clark at Newell.
I found 1 on Ebay and ordered it. We will see. I hope the door handle was the issue. I was surprised how far down I had to pull to get the door to release. At least now I have access to the inside of the door to replace any broken parts.