Door stuck

Just got a 1990 Suburban and the driver's side second door won't unlock. I have the panel apart but can't find the problem. The power lock nor the interior lock knob will function. I realize something is stuck in the mechanism and I am going to replace the latch mechanism but can't get the stinking door open to get the old one out. Anybody got an experience with this or advice? Thanks.

I am living with the exact same problem. Is the interior lock button disconnected? Can you pull the button and the attached vertical rod completely out of the hole?

This is what happened to me. That vertical rod became detached from the horizontal rod connected to the inside door handle, that activates the door latch. And while the solenoid in the door still makes its normal clunk sound, the power door lock function no longer locks or unlocks the passenger door.

I can still unlock, open and re-lock the door using the outside door handle and a key in the outside door lock cylinder. On a long trip with a co-worker riding shotgun, I gave him his own door key. I instructed him to leave the door unlocked so he could open it from the inside in an emergency. At stops, he would get out and lock the door from outside with his key. Worked out fine.

Later, I pulled the inside panel. There's still plenty of structural sheet metal blocking the area you need to see to work on! I replaced the little plastic connector between the two rods, but it came off after a couple of cycles. Guess I'll have to pay the local Central American bargain locksmith the $30-$50 to do it right.