Opening driver's door from inside a bit difficult, Is it the door handle or the latch?? Options

[aylanco]

Hi All,

My driver's interior door handle has too much free play before it actually starts unlatching the door. The interior door handles open about 80 degrees total. My driver's door handle does not start to unlatch the door (ie pull the rod to move the latch) until about 60 degrees, which just does not feel right. The passenger door starts to unlatch the door at about 20 to 30 degrees, which feels normal. I pulled out the driver's door handle to inspect it. I am not sure what I am looking for, but the maze of parts making up the handle do seem to be a bit loose, and the cam actuating the movement of the rod does not make its contact until about 60 degrees of movement.

Before I spend the $ on one part or the other, is it likely to be the interior handle or could the problem be with the latch. I know it could be both, bit I am wondering if this is a common thing from one or the other.

Thanks