'96 SC1 Door Handles stay up!

[SuperZook]

The door handles on my 1996 Saturn SC1 stay up when I pull on them to open the door. If I don't push them down, the door might not close tightly. Also, even if it does close tightly, when inside trying to get out, the door will not open. I have to roll down the window and push the handle down so I can open the door from the inside. Is there some kind of spring inside the handle which is broke? Any suggestions on repairing this by myself? I don't have any special tools and don't want a complicated replacement job, it just isn't worth paying for either. Is it possible to replace this without doing more than taking off the inside plastic part of the door? What part would I need (what is probably broken inside)?