[Dave at Pelican Parts]

Sorry, Salselito, I don't know enough about the exterior door handle to be able to diagnose it remotely. I didn't have to remove either one from my wife's car, either, so I don't have any real insight into that.

My issue turned out, as several others pointed out, to be the "idiot-proof door" mechanism. But I also wound up needing to repair the window lift (the spring holder came out, evidently a common problem--see my post with pics of that) so I'm glad I got the practice of doing this job twice.

--DD