Plastic bits of the exterior door handle that connect to the cable broke, so I replaced the handle.

The interior latch always functioned.

Ensured both inside and outside latches functioned correctly, multiple times, closing, opening.

Reinstalled the interior door panel trim. Both handles still worked.

Went for a drive, both latches stopped functioning. Door appears to lock and unlock but neither latch has any resistance. Some loopy cable issue.

Who has experience removing the door panel on a closed door?

Please help.

 

I assume there are no better solutions than removing the seat and breaking half the plastic pop rivets.

https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...r-outside.html

 

Personally, I'd call a locksmith first. If the window is up, and being able to "fish" from the inside, they may well be able to pull downward on the cable.

 

Removing the seat afforded enough access to pop the interior panel off except for the bit sandwiched between the door and dash. Then, w/o the seat, was able to contort my arm into a position where I could snag the release and open the door. Didn't break any plastic pop rivets, and only lost one of the torx bolts somewhere. Hopefully not inside the door.

The issue: Cable was correctly threaded still, but I discovered I should not have adjusted the end point the exterior latch snags on. I tightened it to lessen slack in the exterior latch. Which caused both latches to not operate after the door is locked. So I loosened the catch point up a little, back to where it was (1/4" or so of 'give' in the exterior latch before it operates the mechanism), and now everything works.

Don't be like me, people.