Suburban rear door problem

Help! I have a '91 Suburban and the rear (as in the tail of the car,
not the back doors) door will not open. It's one of the side-by-side
models, and the button on the door handle popped out. Now I cannot
open the door.
I have reinserted the button, but it does not re-engage whatever it had
been previously clipped to. I think I have to remove the inside door
panels in order to get access to the locking mechanism, etc., but in
order to do so the door must be open. There is not easy access to
screws with the door closed, and it looks like parts of the car
(interior ceiling, esp.) would block panel removal even if all the
screws were out.
Can't open the door without removing the panel.
Can't remove the panel without opening the door.

I have contemplated knocking the pins out of the hinges, which are
easily accessible, but I am reluctant to do so unless it's my last
resort. I have a Suburban on-vehicle shop manual and there is nothing
in it about knocking out the pins so I'm holding off in case someone
has a better idea.

Thanks.

Bob

"Bob" > wrote in message
ups.com...
> Help! I have a '91 Suburban and the rear (as in the tail of the car,
> not the back doors) door will not open. It's one of the side-by-side
> models, and the button on the door handle popped out. Now I cannot
> open the door.
> I have reinserted the button, but it does not re-engage whatever it had
> been previously clipped to. I think I have to remove the inside door
> panels in order to get access to the locking mechanism, etc., but in
> order to do so the door must be open. There is not easy access to
> screws with the door closed, and it looks like parts of the car
> (interior ceiling, esp.) would block panel removal even if all the
> screws were out.
> Can't open the door without removing the panel.
> Can't remove the panel without opening the door.
>
> I have contemplated knocking the pins out of the hinges, which are
> easily accessible, but I am reluctant to do so unless it's my last
> resort. I have a Suburban on-vehicle shop manual and there is nothing
> in it about knocking out the pins so I'm holding off in case someone
> has a better idea.
>
> Thanks.
>
> Bob
>
Does the button have an ice-pick like pin attached (or broken?)? If so,
use an ice pick to reach where the broken pin no longer reaches. Just a
try??? Luck, s

Howdy, S.
The pin is still there, but there is nothing inside the door for the
pin to push against. From reading other posts I conclude that it's
usually attached to something by a clip but I think the clip must have
fallen down into the bowels of the door.
Bob