Door latch issue

I recently replaced a window regulator and then after that didn't completely solve my issue I also replaced the door latch, both on the driver side. I recently noticed some weird behavior and finally isolated the parameters. When I park and close the door and then reopen it (such as when parked overnight in the garage) without locking it everything works great, i.e. the window drops a bit, the door opens and then the window rises again once the door is shut. HOWEVER when I lock the door, it starts to act weird. Locking is fine. But when UNlocking and then attempting to open the door from the outside, the window drops a bit but the door won't open. This happens exactly three times, then on the fourth pull the latch finally opens the door. On the first three pulls the window drops and then rises again when releasing the handle. Any experience? Parts were all new and complete assemblies.

I remember reading a procedure to "reset" windows after new regulators are in. Did you do this?

I believe I did do the reset but can do it again. Note that there is NO issue with the window anymore at all, it works great in all respects. Just the latch will not release until the fourth time the outside handle is pulled and only AFTER the door was locked. If the door was not locked it opens like, well, just like yours does :-)

when you replaced the regulator and door latch you didn't put a mark on the glass. your door glass is not aligned it's more to the right causing the window to drop about an inch or two. you should replace the Microswitch too. Part #996-613-126-00

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Huh? I think you misunderstood. The window now works great, as designed. I did mark it and I did install it correctly and it goes up and down the proper amount and seals correctly while driving. The only issue is the door does not open when the handle is pulled on the first pull but only if the car is locked and then unlocked. The window goes down and back up with every pull of the handled. If the car is left unlocked it opens first pull every time.

are you locking and unlocking with the key or the remote ?

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Remote. Key just spins in lock cylinder which is also a new phenomenon. Lock cylinder and door handle is still original to car and used to work. Just to reiterate that I can unlock with the Remote just fine and it IS unlocked since the window moves down when the door handle is operated, just the latch doesn't actually disengage until the door handle is pulled several times making the window go down and up. And the passenger side works just fine. If left unlocked the door opens first time every time. It's just the first time after unlocking it that's the issue. It is so consistent that I don't see how it can be a micro switch. What is INconsistent is the number of times I have to pull the handle. Sometimes three times, sometimes several more. I think the record is twelve times. But never on the first try.

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I'd fix this asap, because if your remote fails you're locked out of the car. There's a rod connecting the lock cylinder to the latch mechanism which, in my case, had fallen out. Easy fix.

JimmyB's suggestion is a good place to start .What didn't work that required latch replacement ?The intermittent operation seems more like loose connection or broken wire .At any rate first priority should be to get key lock working .

OK thanks. Good ideas, will take the door panel off again and look more. Need to find the radio code again first, had it on a scrap of paper and like a total moron didn't write it in the manual....

Finally circling back to this, I found the time to take the door panel off again. As JimmyB above suggested there is a rod that has a paddle shaped end that extends from the tumbler to the latch mechanism. Turns out I didn't even notice this when I replaced the latch since I didn't remove the outside handle mechanism. Taking the door handle itself off revealed all, and it ended up being an easy fix. Solved ALL of the problem, both the lock mechanism and the handle are now working first time, every time. Argh, I just remembered when I reassembled I didn't plug in the two little plugs for the lights in the door when I put the panel back on. Dammit, gotta go back in again!

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did adjusting/reconnecting the tumbler rod resolve your unlocking issue? I�ve had this problem for a while. Unlock the car, window drops, door won�t open. Ive simply applied pressure to the door to release the lock. I think there�s an internal return spring that might be past it�s prime but it�s far easier for me to bump the door than to tear the door apart. Definitely curious if it�s just a rod placement, as dropping the door card is pretty easy but gutting the door is not (in my opinion).