Rear Door striker bolt replacement lesson learned

[Scott Schaeffler]

Just a quick lesson learned. I was replacing the rear door striker bolts in my 2002 Sport Trac when the nut plate in the door frame fell from its slot into the body panel cavity. Argh!! Turns out it was easy to retrieve and reset into its slot. Access to the interior of that body panel is easily achieved via the small storage compartment behind the rear passenger seat back. Simply pull back the fabric liner in the storage compartment to reveal some large cut-outs in the body panel. You might need a magnet on a stick if the nut plate ends up just out of reach. I found the upper hole plenty large to get my hand through in order to slide the nut plate into its slot. Good Luck!

 

[Scott Schaeffler]

Also, part number for that striker bolt is Dorman 38445.

 

[clandress]

Thanks for the information! I hope I never need it but good to know if I do.