Strange problem, just started happening a few weeks ago on my 1990 Volvo 244, in otherwise great condition. When I go to open up the driver's side door from the outside, the door seems stuck, it requires an enormous amount of force on the handle to pull it open. Opening it from the inside, however, there's no problem, and the door seems well-lubricated (it swings back and forth on the hinges with ease). Any idea what could be wrong? I'm not sure if it's something in the hinges or the handle mechanism... I'm able to pull up the handle with ease, and from there it's just a lot of pulling to open up the door.

I would recommend pulling the inner door skin off and taking a look at the handle linkage. Its been a few years since I did this, but I believe there is an adjustment in the outside handle linkage that leads down to the lock mechanism... vibration could (after a few years) cause it to loosen. The lock mechanism is probably fine, its the link between the outside handle and the lock mechanism.

jorrell