Ford Mercury Villager 1997 Owner's Manual page 106

The power door lock switch
NOTE: If the sliding door is open when all doors are locked with
the power door lock switch, the sliding door
automatically locks when it is closed.
You can manually lock and unlock the doors using the manual
door locks to override the power locks.
Liftgate
Opening the Liftgate
To unlock the liftgate with the key, insert the key into the lock
and turn it counterclockwise. To make the gate swing up to the fully
opened position, pull back and upward on the handle. The
liftgate will not unlock if the optional liftgate window is open.
You can also unlock the liftgate using the optional power door
lock system, or the optional keyless entry system. However, it
cannot be opened until you release the latch by reaching
under the license plate light shield and lifting up on the handle.
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