What is wrong with my 2000 Ford Focus ZX3 car door and what do I need to fix it?

I recently bought a 2000 Ford Focus ZX3 off a good friend of mine. A huge pet peeve is the driver side door. It opens fine from the inside. It won't open from the outside. I have to unlock and open the passenger side, stretch over to the drivers side, open the door, then walk over and enter the drivers side. It closes fine too. Its a bit harder to lock than the passengers side too if that makes any difference. I would like to fix it myself as it will cost alot of money to get it fixed at a car shop. I just want to know if anyone has a clue to what is wrong with the handle and if I should order a new handle on eBay (if you could provide a link to get what I need too, you get a gold star:3)

This is my first car.

I recently bought a 2000 Ford Focus ZX3 off a good friend of mine. A huge pet peeve is the driver side door. It opens fine from the inside. It won't open from the outside. I have to unlock and open the passenger side, stretch over to the drivers side, open the door, then walk over and enter the drivers side. It closes fine too. Its a bit harder to lock than the passengers side too if that makes any difference. I would like to fix it myself as it will cost alot of money to get it fixed at a car shop. I just want to know if anyone has a clue to what is wrong with the handle and if I should order a new handle on eBay (if you could provide a link to get what I need too, you get a gold star:3)

This is my first car. Please help! The outside handle is detached from the latch mechanism. With the door open, you need to remove the inside panel from the door. It is possible that the handle can be reattached without actually replacing any parts. Without actually seeing the inside of the door, anything more is just a guess. There's a plastic bit inside the door that has either broken or worn excessively,
I removed my inner door panel and was able to rig a zip-tie or two to the rod the actuates the lock mechanism - as it needs to go up and down and not bow out - nickel fix but it was till going strong when I sold the car 6 months later and much easier than trying to replace the part that is just about impossible to get to or even see.

Better to fix it before it completely breaks and you can't even open the door to work on it - that is a whole world of **** if it gets that bad.

There's a plastic bit inside the door that has either broken or worn excessively,
I removed my inner door panel and was able to rig a zip-tie or two to the rod the actuates the lock mechanism - as it needs to go up and down and not bow out - nickel fix but it was till going strong when I sold the car 6 months later and much easier than trying to replace the part that is just about impossible to get to or even see.

Better to fix it before it completely breaks and you can't even open the door to work on it - that is a whole world of **** if it gets that bad.