Okay...
Been doing stuff to the Runner....
(just some normal cleanign of compnentes inside engien and such)
And I fiugred I would try to attack my Rear Door Issue...

Rig:
97' 4Runner SR5 4WD Auto

The issue is that occasionally it gets stuck and i have to end up allpying a significant amount of pressure to the door to pop it open...

It started around July or August...
The car was loaded and I guess a belt or strap or something got caught between the door and the body of the Runner...
And since then on ocassion the door will get stuck...

It feels more liek the handle is not working...
I will pull it but it is really tight to pull...
When I compare the feel of the handle from mine to stepdads...
His is like opening the drivers door and mine is like playing on of those games at the arcade to test your strength...

I have search but no one has had this problem in the way I have...

Any ideas/solutions/etc/etc would be greatly appreciated...
It's just one of those little things that gets under my skin every now and then...


thanks...

EDIT: Another random question...
Has any 3rd Gen Runner Owner Installed a Inclinometer and Altimeter Gauge In Theres...
That is one thing about the 1st (and I believe 2nd) gen Runenrs Have That I would love!!!

 

you may want to pop off the rear inside cover and grease the latch and other moving parts. My friend had to do this to his cherokee classic.

 

I will do that then...
Time to use teh search feature for that rear panel...

 

Is the door out of alignment? Like it's hanging up on the sill? Look for wear marks, scuffs or missing paint to determine if the door is wedging itself on the frame. You can adjust the door by slightly loosening the hinge brackets and nudging it in the direction opposite of the scuffs.
Now is also a great time to lube your hinges, latches and lock cylinders. I use any spray lubricant: WD40, Silicone, LPS2or3.

 

Thats exactly what i did, and problem fixed. mine was also full of mud, so that had to be cleaned up also.

 

At first I thought that was the problem...
But the door is Dead On Center...
I will def Lube and pull the back panel off and do work in there...
Now to jsut find that dang write-up...

 

I had something similar happen to my tailgate, and it turned out one of the rods inside the door was bent. Don;t know how it happened, but I bent it back, and it seems okay.

 

I will have to check later this week, probably firday after noon when I am doing my deckplate mod...

 

Mine works hard too.
Really have to push it in and then pop the latch for it to open.

Good security factor however, keeps the wife and daughter from digging through what I have stashed in the rear compartment.

 

That would be good for me too if I had tHe cargo area cover,
Unfortuently I bought my Runner used, and it did not come with it...

 

Don't want to hi-jack this thread, but my passenger door on my 2000 4runner front has like a hitch when I operate the door handle on the outside. Could there be something loose or messed up if someone tried a boglar <sp tool to unlock the door? TJ

 

if your weather stripping is sticking you can use some vaseline or something like that on it. the door on my mom's civic sticks sometimes, and this fixes it.

 

been awhile did you get it fixed ?

 

Not yet...

 

Pretty sure SteveO has one in his giant green SAS'ed monstrosity... didn't see any pics in his "Check Out My Ride" page but he does say he has a dash mounted inclinometer.