You want to be pulling the rod with the rusty top end in the first pic, the one that connects to the outside handle. Cycle the other rods to make sure the latch is unlocked as you pull the latch rod.

Blaster?

I had exactly this problem with the driver's door - only for me it locked itself up while the door was open, and I couldn't close the door because the lock was engaged. Somehow I had tapped or hit the small lock catch while I was moving some boxes of gear around, the catch isn't shown, but it's the one that swings into part no 68533 in your diagram. It was forced down farther than it should go and was a complete swine to get back up again. It wouldn't open with any handle, with the key, or by pulling/pushing any of the rods, and nothing was disconnected or broken. I think somehow it just went past its regular position, and there was nothing there in the lock assembly to bring it back.
I spent about 45 minutes prying at it with several small screwdrivers and bits of metal trying to get it to lift again, and eventually got the correct force and angle to do it. I reckon you need to find a way to get to that locking catch...

This sounds like my problem although it seems odd it would be able to go past the normal position with the door shut since it would be latching over the U-catch-thing on the frame. Maybe it sprung shut while the door was open (I did have it open for a long time while working in the back) and now itÆs jammed with the latch in the wrong position. That would suck since even with screwdrivers and such I wouldnÆt be able to free the latch at this point. I'm going to work on it some more in the next few days... I'll keep this thread up to date with what I discover. I've also though about taking it to the dealer to see if some old hack may have seen the problem before.

I do not understand!
But thanks for the comment.

PB Blaster. It's a penetrating oil.

Ohhhhh!
Never heard of it but I'm new to the game.

Ya know, I haven't tried anything like that and it is so obvious it may actually work!

I'll let you know and thanks for the suggestion.

The guys tell you about Blaster, but they didn't warn you: Once you've used it, you not only will never go back to WD-40 and lesser products, but you will actually smirk audibly at the mention of them.

<img src="/forums/images/graemlins/zombie.gif" alt="" />

Also try Kroil for stuck fasteners. Haven't used it myself but several on here have. Then there's the 1:1 mix of acetone and ATF.

Do a search for "Penetrating Fluids" over the past year and you'll find info on "scientific" testing that was done. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/kewl.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/kewl.gif" alt="" />

Easy there Ray. Let's break him in slowly with some PB. A little practice and he'll be ready to move up to the sho' nuff stuff... <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />