I know the solution to your problem, I have an 89 and just fixed mine. This is very common in the 88 to 91 model. Directly behind the button on the exterior door handle is a funny metal piece that hinges and pushes a rod that leads to the actual door mechanism, well this hinge has seized in the down (or pushed in position) due to corrosion. To open the door make sure it is locked first and then deliver some sort of hard blow to the door this will pop the metal piece back into place (I used a rubber mallet but you might like the appearance of the door so maybe just use your fist) then unlock and it should open as normal.
Unfortunately the problem will persist, so if you want it fixed you must tear your door completely apart and remove the handle to fix it. Their are three solutions to keeping the metal unit from seizing, one is to go to a junk yard and find new/used handles at 10 bucks a piece or you could lube the mechanism (but beware the problem will come back worse) or the best option is to drill out the pin that acts like a hinge, file down the corroded metal and put new bolts in (be sure to use stainless steel with locking nuts). Also it might be a good idea to lube up all the parts of the door mechanism while the door is apart. This is a 2 hour job per door with proper tools and you will get greasy. I am sure a mechanic would charge a handful, so if you are the least bit mechanical you could do it yourself and save.
So I hope this is helpful for you. If you are in the Minnesota area I could arrange to fix them for you for more than likely a lot less than a mechanic would charge. Good luck and if you have any additional questions feel free to ask.

Jonas

I have an 89 bonnie. The rear driver side door wont open. it feels like the button is disconnected. I cant open it from the inside or outside making it kind of hard to pull off the door panel to fix it. Although it was fixed once at repair shop, six months later the problem has returned... any suggestions, or could this be the same problem discussed above?

thanks

The short answer would be to take it back to that repair shop. I know they won't fix it for free, but they might cut you some slack seeing that it'* been only 6 months since they did the deed. Sorry I can't tell you how to fix it yourself(although it probably has something to do with the rods inside the door). Maybe others will chime in later. Good Luck.

Hrm.....

Would this cause the latch mechanism to stick.... so the door doesn't close, it just 'bounces' out?

If so this might be my problem.

I just finished getting my drivers door on my delta88 working again (it wouldn't unlock)

basically I had to take apart and remove the door panel while the door was closed...reach in and manualy open the door (tecnically the door was still locked)

in my situation it was a rusty spring in the rod from the outside handle/button to the door latch/lock mech. WD40 and some figiting later the spring was rust free and the door works better then the other 3 now I was very lucky that the spring isn't damaged it was just gummed up and coated in dirt and some rust.

my door handle button felt the same as alot of ppl complain of ... after trying to unlock the door their is no resistance to the button and the door doesn't open nor does it unlock

BTW while on the topic of inner door fixing... Cheap door panel remover for all of you... get a normal 4 prong fork... bend 1 of the 2 middle prongs completely back... VOILA! you have a tool to remove the panel with the little plastic plugs without yanking them out of the cardboard backing and ruining their mounting spots in the panel

This seems to be normal as I fixed mine in April and the left rear door has gone back to it'* old habits again. In order to fix it, I use a Slim Jim to unlock and open the door. This works for a week or so and then will not unlock again. I had to replace the spring on the right rear door. It unlocks fine now but the claws in the latch don't open very easily and I have to yank the door a couple of times.

If I used my rear doors constantly, I would buy new latches. But with no kids and not a lot of cargo, I'm going to continue to do what I'm doing.