Interior door handle cup has a screw.

If you are talking front panel I believe there are 4 more screws at the bottom where the plastic pocket is.

For the Back, Just the handle, and the door handle cup screw.

Also, Get a good pry tool the get under the panel at the push in rivet locations. Stat by getting one loose then look at the side and find the next one and pry there.

 

i really appreciate the help....will let you guys know when i am on the other side of this

 

Finally tackled this problem today on my door. Definitely no adjustment available between the outside handle and the latch. The linkage between the two is only maybe 1.5" long if that and just clips into the handle and the latch on either end.


I didn't completely remove the door latch since I didn't feel like removing the window frame to get the latch out. From what I could tell it seemed like maybe a plastic bushing or something was missing from the release mechanism on the latch. Either that or it was just worn. Either way lots of looseness/slop in the mechanism.


I ended up bending the linkage rod between the outside handle and latch to shorten it and get more travel out of the mechanism so it would release earlier. Not a proper fix really, but it does work perfectly. That door actually opens better than any of the other 3 now. I assume a new latch would have fixed it the right way..


Cybercop, you said you installed a new actuator when your problem started.. was it brand new or used? Just curious.. If it was a totally new latch and actuator assembly then I can't figure what's going on with yours, I doubt a brand new latch is bad..