i had the common door handle problem a few weeks ago but was able to fix it, now i'm having the same problem, only that it doesn't appear to be the handle but the linkage. I push down on the linkage with the handle taken off and i can open the door, but when i clip it in it seems like it's not pushing it down far enough, but the system on the handle does move like it's supposed to, i have no clue what to do and climbing in from the other side is really annoying. The pics i attached show how much play there is in the linkage and how far the handle mechanism actually moves.

joe

 

I'm in the same situation, did you ever find a solution?

 

no i didn't, i'm going to be ordering the cf doorhandles from re/feed, i forget which. if that fix's it i'll let you know. i've been crawling through the passenger door for at least 4 months now

 

I just replaced my door handle with a new one. Problem solved. Comparing the old and new it's now obvious where the problem lies although I'd be hard pressed to describe it. Mine looked a lot like yours, note that the mechanism is not supposed to retract as far as yours does, there should be no play between the external handle and the attached metal, none, from either side. If you can move the metal on the inside (where the plastic clip attaches) at all and the external handle doesn't move, then replace it.

 

Now, if you replace the door handles, do you have to get new keys made for the locks? I don't know how that would work because I've never seen or done that. Or can the locks remain the same? I guess I'll find out when I dive into that fixin'.

 

You can use the same lock cylinders, once you get into it you will see the metal spring clip that holds it in.

 

it's not that difficult, takes 20ish minutes to do