Howdy all - first post today! Merry Christmas!

I have a 2000 Silverado 2500HD Ext. Cab with the LS trim package. In case it matters, it has the 7.4L gas engine and 4WD. Not a daily driver. It's sole purpose is as a tow vehicle. Anyway, the drivers side inside door handle won't open the door. I have to roll the window down and use the outside handle. Looked for a video online to find out how to pull the inside door panel, but they all show 2004 1500 series vehicles, not mine. Messed with it a little, but stopped because I don't want to break something.

Maybe it's something as simple as lubrication, or maybe mechanical failure of the mechanism. The outside door handle has no apparent problems. Any help would be most appreciated.

This beast only has 170,000 on it and the engine runs like a scalded dog. It tows my 6,000+ pound Avion like it isn't there. To replace it would cost me upwards of $50K so I'd like to keep it around for a while.

 

maybe a linkage is disconnected.
post a pic of the door trim panel. Your vehicle year is at the end of a generation change so the panel could be either the old bodystyle or new bodystyle.

 

Here is the pic of the inside front drivers-side door. I had the ring around the door handle off and the power window/lock panel off. I had two of the push-connectors pulled out at the back of the door (left side in photo). I had the triangular piece at the upper-right pulled off as well. If it is like most inside door panels, once the connectors are pulled out the panel should lift up from the window channel and come right off. The videos I saw all referenced one or two screws that need to be removed. There are two screws directly aft of the door handle in a finger-hold that you grab to pull the door shut. I had those out also.


I don't think the linkage is broken because if I mess with it long enough, I can get the door to open using the inside handle. If I can get the panel off to see what the problem is I can probably fix it myself. But I don't want to break anything that will cost me a small fortune to have repaired.

 

After a few days of browsing the internet, I found what I was looking for. Apparently the worst thing that will happen is I'll break some of the plastic connectors that hold the panel in place. Here is the video in case anyone else has this issue.