Door handle problems
 

My passenger door handle on the outside does not like to open the door easily.

Before, I would need to squeeze it tightly with my fingertips to get it to open since it wouldn't release by trying to use the handle normally. The inner door handle opens the door fine.

Today I decided to try extending the linkage using Clark's write-up. Once I finally got everything back together, I tried the handled out before putting the door panel back on. The handle now seems to have more resistance to it, but it stays released. I was able to push the lever inside the door back down and work the handled back and forth, figuring the striker plate handled the rest of it, so I put the panel back on and get everything back together.

Now, the handled seems to be working a little better, but I still need to use my fingertips to get it open. Is there anything else I might be able to check? Is it possible it's an issue with the handle? It was replaced at some point, and I don't believe this was a problem before, but I am unable to find the original handle at the moment.

tl:dr; outside door handle works, but not well.

TIA and sorry for the wall of text.

The problems were the same with my outer door handles. I would have to use four fingers, two left and two right over them, to get the handle to work to open the door. I first greased every thing with white molly grease, door handle, door latch, and striker. That helped the passengers side immensely, but still not allot of help with the drivers side. I finally wound up replacing the drop down linkage in the drivers side handle as it was very worn. It works like new now with very little effort.

Also I found that screwing down the black plastic connector that connects the door handle linkage the door mechanism - that's the adjustment part that is on the handle linkage. If it is screwed down as far as it will go, without it falling off easily, it will work way better that way.

So three things here - Lubricant and adjustment, and if those fail replace the linkage.