Rear Door handle mechanism broken inside...doors won't open

[onewingman]

hey, gotta '94, 4.3 Vortec( Oh, BOY!)...current problem is, well, it's gettin' old...so, one fine freezing morning I give the handle on the rear door the hardy heave to overcome the frost...and bata Boom, bata Bing...I hear the internals hit the bottom of the door inside the panel...this was a LT...I bought it for a work/tool hauler...
Before I just get pissed off and take my sawsall to the panels...anyone have a more civilized approach I might take?...
Thanks, onewingman
PS the panel screws are on the passive/driver's side door...

[Smiliesafari]

I don't know the answer. If you do a search I'm sure you'll find the solution. It seems to be pretty common.

[WoodButcher]

If you have panel screws on the finished interior a previous owner put them in. Passenger vans interior panels are not screwed, they are held with those christmas tree like things pressed into holes on the inside steel of the door. They pop on and off and those pins often break. Here are pics of my '93. Sorry, no pics of the back of the panel.

[Kidhauler]

If you do a search I did a big write up on how to open the barn doors a few years ago I know it's pinned at the top of the section. If you pop the speaker out you should be able to reach the door rods and open the door.