Rodeo’s Obstinate Left Rear Door Lock

The routine chores of loading and unloading the kids, the family dog and groceries into the back of an Isuzu Rodeo are made simple by the convenience of electronically operated power door locks.

After a period of time, though, the left rear door lock can refuse to unlock. How dare it? Why can’t it be like the other door locks and operate flawlessly for years?

If a customer visits your shop for a service or repair, they may or may not mention the left rear door lock problem. Hopefully, you have an ALLDATA automotive information system that lists current factory technical service bulletins (TSBs) so you can easily review them with your customers to jog their memories.

According to the TSB for this particular issue, Rodeo models produced before December 2, 1996 and equipped with power door locks may experience a condition in which the left rear door will not fully unlock. This problem occurs when the front power door lock button or the keyless entry transmitter button is pressed; however, it will unlock when the left rear door lock knob is used.

As it turns out, the evidence presented in the TSB exonerates the left rear door lock. The root cause of the problem is that the left rear door bellcrank pivot is coming loose from its mounting slot in the door panel. To repair this condition, remove the existing left rear door lock bellcrank pivot and replace it with a new one (Part No. 2-90028-725-0), using the following procedure.

REMOVAL

1. Remove the Left Rear Door Trim Pad

2. Remove the Waterproof Sheet

Peel back the waterproof sheet to expose the blue plastic left rear door bellcrank pivot.

3. Remove the Left Rear Door Bellcrank Pivot (Figure 1)

Disconnect the white plastic bellcrank from the existing bellcrank pivot.

Remove and discard the existing bellcrank pivot.

INSTALLATION

1. Install the Left Rear Door Bellcrank Pivot (Figure 2)

Insert the new left rear door bellcrank pivot into the mounting slot in the door panel.

Secure the bellcrank pivot to the door panel by turning the bellcrank pivot counterclockwise until the pivot clicks into place and two pivot tabs on the outside of the pivot are lined straight up and down.

2. Reinstall the Waterproof Sheet to the Door Panel

3. Reinstall the Left Rear Door Trim Pad

When all repairs have been completed, check for proper left rear door lock operation…repeatedly. I heard from reliable sources that the replacement left rear door bellcrank pivot is much more dependable. This is good news for falsely accused left rear door locks everywhere.

Rich is an Advanced Engine Performance Certified, ASE Master Technician with an AA Degree in automotive technology and 22 years of dealership and independent shop experience.