Ok so at first glance, this problem appeared to be related to the door lock actuator on my passenger side, but when I went about replacing the window motor, I decided to get a closer look at what the problem is...

Basically, when i unlock the car (via remote, or unlock button) the switch on the passenger side shifts to the unlocked position, but you cannot open it from the outside BUT you CAN open it from the inside...and whats weirder, once you open it from the inside (say...to let someone in), it can then be opened from the outside until the car is locked again... I played with the unlock button while I had the cable disconnected, and the lock cable appears to be plenty powerful and has full range of motion, I just think there is some problem in the handle assembly?

I was going to do the $5 fix, but not I dont think that is the issue...is there some connection in the handle assembly that can easily be broken? and does taking the assembly apart require removing the window and all that?

any thoughts?

 

If you lock it and unlock it with the fob, verify from the outside you cannot open the door, and jiggle the inside switch, making sure it's all the way to the unlock side, can you open it from the outside? Sounds like it's unlocking, but perhaps all the way. Just some ideas to experiment with.

 

no i cant, no amount of playing with the inside door lock (with the door panel on or off) will allow me to open the door from the outside, however the moment i open the door from the inside, you can close and reopen the door any number of times from the outside...until you lock and unlock the car again...

 

ok so i am bring this topic up again because its getting warmer out which affords me more time to tinker with this problem. I am trying to discern whether this problem is due to the door lock actuator (which I dont think it is) or some problem with the door handle mechanism itself.

Basically, if the car is locked, then unlocked with either the fob or even the lock lever itself, the passenger side door will not open from the OUTSIDE. The door will open from the inside however. And to make things more weird, if i fiddle with the inside handle and the outside handle, I can eventually get the outside handle to work at opening and closing the door. Once I lock the car again though, it goes back to the same and cannot be open from the outside.

I dont really know how the G's door handle is designed, or if this is a problem other people have had, but it doesnt seem like the actuator. When I had the door panel off the lock wire extended and retracted strongly along a full range of motion, and from what I understand, when it dies you cant open it from the inside either? the inside lever opens the door everytime with no problem.

Also, i wouldnt mind taking the door handle out to get a better look...is this process difficult? I am wondering if some rod may be bent, or something disconnected in there that might cause this sort of problem.

 

anybody?