I bought a cheap, used 99 montero and need to replace the rear / trunk / hatch door exterior handle, so I can open it from the outside. the white plastic latch that turns the metal thing inside the door is snapped off. It has been a total pain in the but to work on, and before I mess more stuff up, I figured I'd post this thread hoping to get detailed directions. I've been to the junkyards and own a 1st gen swb monty and can say pretty much 100% certain that all monteros have identical rear door exterior handle set ups. Please let me know. thanks!!!!

 

you need to take off the rear insider door panel.
take the outside plastic part off. there is 4 clips, so be easy on it.

once those 2 are off take a small socket, i think its a 10'
take off the 2 bolts, then put everything back on.

 

I bought WD-40 with the flexible metal straw. This allowed me to insert it through the handle hold above the license plate and spray at multiple angles. I soaked it good and it popped right open. No cutting my tool panel or removing anything. I'm a forester and the Montero has been in continual use since 2002, so I can't imagine one being much dirtier.

I'd sprayed in the hold the day before with a regular WD-40 straw and let sit overnight with no luck. It opened immediately after spraying with the flex straw.