2004 Driver door handle degraded performance

The driver door handle on my 2004 extended cab has started to perform poorly over time. You have to pull the handle all the way out for the door to open where the passenger door pops loose around half way. It also sounds like something is loose opening it. I have already broken one handle from having to pull extra hard on it.

As a side note, occasionally when I open the door from the inside or outside, the lock falls down and locks the door as well.

Any thoughts on what might be off here?

 

I have changed my driver side front out side handles 3 times, passenger side 2 times, havent had the lock thing happen, the last time, my inner handel won't open on the driver side.
All the linkage appears to be hooked up.
Outside are an easy fix

 

Open the door up and see what's going on?

 

I experience the same exact thing. bugs the heck out of me. I may try to figure it out this weekend, and if I do I'll report back. If you figure it out let me know please...

 

There should be a spring on the interior of the handle, probably worn. Grab a new one about 25 bucks remove the interior door panel. Pretty easy fix.

 

5 minutes to pull it apart

 

So it ended up just being that the entire locking mechanism was gummed up and restricting all movement slightly. Enough that during an unlock, it wouldn't completely unlock so it would occasionally flip back into the locked position. I had to pull the entire locking mechanism out, de-grease/clean, and re-grease the moving parts. Took around 45 mins, but it is working like new.

 

As per usual, timmy has a good video about the process https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=78yoVyTRUHU

 

The linkage can bend over time as well. Straightening it out with a vice and lubing everything helps a ton