Chrysler Repair: sliding door wont unlock: 02 minivan, dodge grand caravan, frame molding

Question
QUESTION: my 2002 dodge grand caravan's rear sliding door won't unlock. i get codes p0442   1684   0455     can you help

ANSWER: Hi Fred,
I need to know: is this a powered sliding door or a manual operated sliding door? And when you say is "won't unlock", what do you mean, that the electrical lock/unlock mechanism won't work, that the manual lock/unlock mechanism won't work, or that the connection from the door handles to the latching devices don't work?
On the codes, the 0442 and 0445 means likely that one of the hoses in the gas vapor collection/recycling system (which has hoses connecting from the gas tank to the carbon collection canister in the right front corner of the engine compartment, and from the canister to the intake manifold, and which has a leak detection pump in one of those lines, and a purge solenoid in another line) is either disconnected or badly cracked. So to solve that situation you have to trace along the lines and find the cause. Those codes have nothing to do with locks.
The 1684 means the battery was disconnected from the engine computer (or basically disconnected from the vehicle) at some point in the last 50-100 key cycles. If this is not the case, then you may have a loose connection of a battery clamp at the battery or a poor ground connection of one of the wires from the - clamp to the chassis/engine.
Roland

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: it is a manually sliding door and the lock will not unlock either manually or electrically. i tried a vice grip and pry bar. I gave it some pressure but was afraid something would break if i tried any harder. thank you.
Fred

Answer
Hi Fred,
You will need to get inside the door to see what is hanging up the mechanism. To do that,
remove the upper frame molding (3 clips above the window, 1 clip on the front and rear edge). and then remove the secrew from the pull cup, then disengage the 12 push-pins that hold the trim panel to the door (3 on each edge) and remove panel, then peel back the weather seal in the latch area to allow for inspection of the mechanism.
There are about 15 pages that show the entire door system which I can photo copy and postal mail to you if you can't identify the problem. If you could send me back 5 44-cent stamps to cover my costs that would be appreciated. If you want that let me know a postal mailing address.
Roland