Help! Lock rod in drivers side door came out

Crap!

I was installing my new power locks on my 2000 extra cab taco, lining up and clamping the actuator to the existing lock rod that runs from the tab on the door panel to the door latch mechanism, when I pulled too hard and it came out of the door latch mechanism!

Ahhhh!

How do i get it back in?

 

Here's the install page for a Ranger (no Tacoma avail, but it's similar). The factory-installed rod that they clamp the actuator to is what i'm talking about. It came too far up and has pulled out of its mechanism in the door latch.

http://www.a1electric.com/door_locks2.htm

 

Well the door latch is inaccessible because it's hidden behind a flap of sheet metal. A buddy told me to undo the door latch (there are three allen screws in the door frame area), feed it out into the door panel access hole, reattach everything, and then slide it back in.

That sounded like a good idea but I can't get the second rod out. There's four rods involved here, one from the door lock rod (inside of cab), one from the keyhole outside, and one from the handles outside and inside to actually open the door.

The trouble one is from the outside handle. It won't come out of the clamp. It seems to be stuck. The other one is similar and it came out easily.

I was freaking out because I'm going on a drive up the coast this weekend and I wanted to get it done before then :/ but the door is still lockable from the outside so I guess I'll just have to leave it as is and try taking it to a shop next week.

Sucks though, i was all happy to do it myself and now i gotta pay labor

 

Haha yea, definitely. Now I know what the inside of a door looks like too

Plus I still have the passenger side door to do, so I can still prove myself haha