I searched on the forum for a solultion and am unable to find the problem I am having. My door handle wont open the door from the outside. The linkage is connected. It all started when I took the handle of to paint it and now when I put it back together the door wont open. I have to open it from the inside. I am trying not to take the door panel off because all my clips/hardware are not in good condition. I put the passenger side back on and it works just fine so i know i connected it up correctly (at least once)....

Any ideas?

I almost feel like the linkage that pops the door one open is bending instead of engaging the pop\lock mechanicsm.

Thanks,
Jon

 

Take off your door handle and try to open the door with just the linkage. IIRC you push the linkage down to open the door from the outside. If the door opens easily that way then the linkage is fine and you need to look at your door handle assembly. Look to see if anything is bent or broken in the door handle assembly. You mentioned that you took everything apart.....make sure you put everything back together correctly. Use some white lithium grease to lube up everything. Also look for any cracks on the plastic handle especially where the metal rod goes through them. The plastic handle will crack and will not allow the linkage to be pushed down all the way resulting in the door not opening.

 

Will check. Looks like I am going to have to take the door panel off again.. It is barely hanging on as it is now..

 

let me save you the trouble....

this happened to me recently. i troubleshot the hell out of my door and all the linkages. i even took them out to inspect. its a waste of time. when you take your door handle off you will see a thick rod and thin rod, push down on the thick rod and the door will open. the thin rod is for locking and unlocking the door.

the quick fix for this is to put zip ties in the handle part to basically pre-load the rod so it opens properly. i will get a picture for you of the exact location later. i am replacing my entire door. no idea why this happens but i have not been able to fix or find a fix for it.

 

If the outside door handle worked before you messed with it and now it doesn't, you simply don't have it back together correctly.
It isn't necessary to take off the door panel in most cases to fix this unless you've really fubared it.
Simply remove the (2) 10mm nuts inside the door by popping off the plastic triangle cover, then pull the door handle out a bit and inspect it; and as cr-rex says you can see how it works.

If your door lock light isn't working, now is a good time to fix that, too.

 

Taking it apart tonight. If you have those pics for the zip tie... would be much apprecieated.

Thanks all for the help