Drivers Door Lock/handle Disengagement...?

[JHoff11]

Hey guys, been lurking on the site for the last year or so and find 99% of what I need...finally had an issue (more like anomaly) that I couldn't root-cause through forum searching....I'll just try to list the facts

 

 

2002 GMC Sierra 5.3L Extended Cab 4WD

 

The drivers door handle (both inside and outside) appear to be disengaging from the actual door opening mechanism. The door will lock just fine, but when I press unlock (key fob and/or inside truck) the slider inside moves to unlock, and I can open it, but when I shut it, it won't open again unless I press lock then unlock. This is NOT due to keys in ignition...they're in my hand, and this just started happening after a year of owning the truck without this problem. It doesnt seem to have enough power to re-unlock itself from this state of purgatory between lock and unlock unless I re-lock THEN unlock.

 

I can feel no resistance in either handle once I've utilized my one-time-pull of unlock until i re-lock and re-unlock .

 

Also, if I unlock it and sit inside my truck for more than....2 minutes? the handle feels 'disengaged' again.

 

I know this is utterly ridiculous, but it appears that my truck only allows you to unlock the drivers door ONCE and ONLY once, and if you don't use that opportunity quick enough, the truck takes it away ....its possessed

 

I sometimes leave the window down when planning to get back into the truck within a few minutes because I can then reach inside and with my finger, push the slider on the inside enough to overcome this purgatory stage manually. Based on feel at this point, its like the unlock button on has enough power to push the slider 75% of the way required to unlock the vehicle, and it teeters on the brink of unlockedness (new word)

 

Note: Passenger door works fine on all accounts, this is JUST drivers door...

 

I appreciate any/all help.

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Lube the inside of the door good where the rods slide back and forth, and if neccesary, replace the actuator. A can of good lube on all the latches and stuff might also fix it.