1996 Jeep CHerokee

I have a 1996 Jeep Cherokee sport. I use it for a winter car so it sits all summer. This year when I went to open the 2 passenger side doors the buttons pushed right through. I purchased 2 new handles.

While installing the new handles I noticed the hardware ( rods ) were seized up, which was most like the cause of the door handles breaking. I sprayed all of the linkages and got them all moving freely. The inside door handle works but the problem is new outside handle won't work. I can't get the rods to release the latch without the handle on either. It appears that the rod is moving all the way up ( i don't want to pry on it to hard because i might bend something.) DOes anyone have an idea what it could be? is there something in the mechanism that breaks and do i just have to rplace the latch? any help would be great thanks

Try looking at one of the ones that work (the left side).