Third door handle breaks
Owners of some 1996-2002 Chevrolet and GMC S/T Extended Cab S-10s and Sonomas may report that the third door is hard to open and that the handle may be broken. Follow these steps to adjust the lock rods: Remove the door trim.
Release both the lock rods from the lock rod retainer.
Position the upper lock rod first (see fig. 1). Postion the lock rod in the retainer so that there is a 10 mm to 12 mm, or about 11 to 12 threads showing, from the end of the rod.
Important: Make sure the upper striker is not bound against the latch. If this were to occur, push the door inboard to release the latch. To correct a bound latch, adjust the striker until it is centered with the latch.
Position the lower lock rod in the retainer where it rests, usually 5 mm to 6 mm of thread from the end of the rod after the upper lock rod is locked in place.
Install the door trim