Is it the carrier or something else?
 

Been reading quite a bit as there are lots of info on this site (thanks to this community). I just wanted to confirm before ordering the part.
Symptoms:
Driver door will not open from outside when pulling the handle.
I can open it from the inside.
The driver lock is inoperable when the central lock button is pressed and/or when the remote lock/unlock is used. The lock doesn't go up or down.

Is this a door carrier issue? :dunno: Can it be fixed or does it need to be replaced? Are these two issues related?

I pulled the panel out and started peeling the foam cover and it got dark. Will tackle in the AM but thought to confirm issue with the experts?

Thank you!

could be loose bowden cable but if the outside handle "feels" broken, like it is moving weird or something - carrier probably is broken. you are peeling the door panel - do you already have the part? sometimes carrier is broken in a such a way that you can't confirm it visually, so you might want to have the part handy as you pull the panel

The outside handle can be pulled but doesn't go back 100% to its original location. It's raised a bit and feels a bit spongy as it goes back.
Yes I removed the panel and don't have the part yet. I figured I will have to remove anyway to replace the part but thought to investigate in case it was something else.

Bowden cable you say, isn't this the cable that connects to the inside handle? That one works fine, I can open from inside.

Do others confirm its a carrier?

Q: Can I remove it and still be able to open and close the door from inside once removed? I want to be able to drive to work until the carrier arrive but want most of the work done ahed of time.

Sounds like door handle carrier to me, with what you described. It's broken and must be replaced.

I think so too tmv. I looked closer this AM and it appears the short cable attached to the carrier has elongated a bit which would explain why it doesn't unlatch and why the outside door handle won't come back to the normal position. Kinda like this pic borrowed from this thread: http://www.xoutpost.com/articles/x5/...andle-fix.html

http://i790.photobucket.com/albums/y...Pics/image.jpg

Still, this doesn't explain why the driver door lock doesn't work with the rest of the locks? I hope it is related to this issue otherwise I think it maybe an actuator, if so what are the odds both go out at the same exact time? :confused:

Any thoughts on the lock Q?

Edit:
The driver door lock is now working after trying the lock/unlock while holding the door handle as described in one of the threads.

Looks like its the carrier now. Thx everyone!