StoneyPoney

Heyo,

1997 XJ
So, my rear passenger door wont open. (yes, it's unlocked lol). So before it wasn't opening at all I couldn't open from just the inside, but I still could from the outside. Now it wont open at all and the button looks half depressed. I've tried to lube it up by shooting some ole reliable WD-40 with the narrow straw into there a couple times but that didn't help. I've tried holding in the button and pushing and pulling the door quickly to try to jar it lose but that hasn't worked either. So im wondering if I need to rip apart the interior paneling to get to the door mechanisms and what do I do when i'm in there? or should I spray in some more WD-40?
Any and all help will be extremely appreciated.

There's the culprit, right there

Jim Malcolm

The latch inside the door is gummed up. Don't try to force the handle, you'll just break stuff... Have a helper outside the vehicle push in on the door while you pull the inside handle. Maybe a little bit of shoulder action; much safer than pulling on the handle. Once you get it open, you'll want to remove the latch, spray it down with cleaner and then some dry lubricant spray. Just did the rears on mine...

Ralph77

I know from experience that you can get rear door panel off without the door being opened.
Mine in my '00 did that to me once.
Pulled the door panel and opened the door fooling with the rods.
Never really did figure out what was wrong cause it worked fine after that.
LOL.
But at least you can get in there and see what is going on.