As it has gotten colder, this fall season, the door handle on the left rear door of my 1987 300TD wagon would sometimes stay stuck in the out position. My 5-year-old daughter uses this door, and when she got in (with the handle still stuck out) and slammed the door closed, it would not latch completely and a loud pop could be heard as the door handle popped back to the in position.

The last couple of days, the door lock would not go all the way up. When it doesn't attempts to open this door result in the coor becoming half-unlatched, and open only partially. If you jerk on the outside handle several times, it will then open. Attempts to pull up or push down the door lock button while the door is in this state one finds the latch will not move from its middle position. Yesterday, we could no longer even open the door. It gets stuck in the partially unlatched position. I examined it last night, and still could not get the door open. I left puzzling how I was going to get the door open to remove the door panel.

This morning, when I unlocked the car, the lock button went all the way up. The door now opens and closes fine. I am wondering if the door latch has a problem, or is it the lock mechanism. Are they one in the same? Should I just replace the unit? Is it servicable? Does it just need some grease, somewhere? I would appreciate any thoughts or ideas you may have on this problem.

Cheers.