RyanA

OK, I just got done doing this and I can say with 100% confidence that I can now have the door open in 15 minutes if it would ever happen again. I will do a step by step with pictures soon on this.

In a nutshell:

1. Remove door panel WITHOUT destroying it. (I only broke off one little edge where the door panel clips go. Did not hurt panel at all otherwise.
2. Remove one 10mm headed bolt at back lower part of door to free the window channel.
3. Swing window channel towards center and put 10mm headed bolt removed in step 2 into a hole that is "meant to be" tol hold the window channel out of your way through the rest of the process.
4. Remove the little black plastic cover by taking out 1 philips screw.
5. Remove the inside linkages from latch.
6. Remove outside door handle linkages from door handle. The big one can really suck. Take your time so you don't break the door handle attaching point!
7. Unplug your power door lock actuator connector. This is the plug at the lower part of the door near the back. Unclip the actuator harness from door shell.
8. Now, through a hole (I'll picture later), take a 90 degree pick and unlatch the door.
9. With door open, remove the 3 #3 philips screws holding the latch on. Remove latch by dropping it straight down until it clears the impact bar then pull out of door.
10. remove the lock linkage and door lock actuator from latch if your new piece did not come with them.
11. Throw that POS as far as you can. DO NOT throw it at animals or you may damage the latch further....
12. Installation is reverse of removal (except for the throwing part.)