NEED TO SEE WHAT CONNECTS THE INSIDE DOOR RELEASE HANDLE TO THE LATCH. STILL HAVE SPRING LOAD FUNCTION ON THE INNER HANDLE, BUT HAVE TO USE OUTER HANDLE TO ACTUALLY GET THE DOOR TO RELEASE. 75 chevelle malibu 2 dr coupe.

It sounds like you have either broken the inside door release or dropped the connecting bar to the latch. If you pull the inside handle, can you see a broken tab? Check the passenger side to see if they look the same when you pull the handle. The handle is spring loaded so it will always return back to its original position even if the connecting bar to the door latch is not connected.

Remove the door's inner (interior) panel and inspect the trailing edge of the inside of the door. You should be able to see the door linkage from both the inner door handle and (what's left) of the outer handle (try moving the inner handle to see how the linkage is routed. I suspect that when the outer handle broke, its linkage dropped onto the inner handle's linkage and jammed it. With a long screwdriver, try moving the inner handle linkage to release the door latch and then replace the outer handle and its linkage (a salvage yard may be the best source and a Mitchell body repair manual should show hoe the linkage is routed and attached. Good luck.

Answer
FRONT DOOR TRIM PANEL
REMOVAL
Using a trim stick (available from parts stores), pry courtesy lamp from door trim.
Disconnect wire connector from courtesy lamp.
If equipped, remove screws attaching door assist handle to inner door panel.
If equipped, remove screw attaching door pull cup to inner door panel.
If equipped, remove screws attaching trim panel to door from below map pocket.
If equipped, remove window crank.
Using a trim stick, remove screw cover from switch panel.
Remove screws attaching switch panel to door trim.
Remove power accessary switch from door trim Front Door Switch Panel
Disconnect power switch from wire connector.
If equipped, using a small, flat bladed pry tool, remove memory seat/mirror switch and disconnect wire connector Memory Seat/Mirror Switch
If equipped, remove screw holding door trim to door panel from behind inside latch release handle.
Disengage clips attaching door trim to door frame around perimeter of panel Front Door Trim Panel
Lift trim panel upward to disengage flange from inner belt molding at top of door.
Tilt top of trim panel away from door to gain access to latch linkage.
Disengage clip attaching linkage rod to inside latch release handle Inside Door Handle Linkage
Separate linkage rod from latch handle.
Remove front door trim panel from vehicle.
INSTALLATION
Hold top of trim panel away from door to gain access to latch linkage.
Place linkage rod in position on latch handle.
Engage clip to hold linkage rod to inside latch release handle.
Place front door trim panel in position on door.
Install trim panel into inner belt molding at top of door.
Install clips to attach door trim to door frame around perimeter of panel.
If equipped, install screw to attach door trim to door panel behind inside latch release handle.
If equipped, connect power switch into wire connector.
Place power accessary switch in position on door trim.
Connect wire connector into memory seat/mirror switch and install switch into trim panel.
Install screws to attach accessary switch panel to door trim.
Install screw cover into switch panel.
If equipped, install window crank.
If equipped, install screws to attach trim panel to door inside map pocket.
If equipped, install screw to attach door pull cup to inner door panel.
If equipped, install screws to attach door assist handle to inner door panel.
Connect wire connector into courtesy lamp.
Install lamp in door trim.

Your door like your hood has a latch mechanism which locks around the "u bracket" if the latch is in the closed position try some wd40 or other penetrating oil to help free it up and try working the inner and outer handle to release it. There is a small metal linkage form the outer door handle and a much longer one from the inner handle which may have come loose if it does not work either way. you would need to remove the door panel to access it and you can get a universal replacement if needed at your local parts store

you will need to remove inner door panel, either the handle itself broke where the rod connects,or the rod fell off or broke at the door latch, or the door latch lever bent or corrodded, the outer and inner handles use the same door latch but not the same mechanisms or rods to operate the latch. Once you remove the door panel and the inner dust shield with the window up look in the bottom of door for clips or a rod or broken parts. and note latch and handle for boken or bent and missing pieces. once you start looking it all becomes self explanatory.

Technical Instructions
See picture below
1. Remove door trim panel and water shield per
NOTE: Place a strip of masking tape along the edge of door before removing trim panel to prevent scratching the door with the trim panel removal tool.

2. Snap cable housing end from slot on inside door handle assembly and disconnect cable.
NOTE: Use care to prevent bending of cable housing retainer bracket.

3. Remove rear window channel retaining bolt to allow access to door latch.

4. Position a block (screwdriver handle) between the latch and the door inner panel and snap the cable housing end out of slot (towards inner panel) on door latch assembly and disconnect cable at latch.
NOTE: Use care when removing cable housing to avoid bending of the latch. Discard cable.

5. Hook up new cable at latch and snap cable housing end into slot.
NOTE: Make sure the cable housing is fully seated in the slot.

6. Apply a light film of Teflon grease to the barrel end of the cable. See Figure A.

7. Install return spring. See Figure A.
NOTE: Ensure that the push button rod is located between the spring and the door inner panel.

8. Install foam block at latch. See Figure A.

9. Position water shield over the return spring and install push pin to retain upper portion of water shield. See Figure B.
NOTE: Push pin goes in the same hole as the return spring.

10. Clean hands of grease before performing step 11.

11. Remove protective backing along the lower edges only of the water shield. See Figure A.

12. Install latch water shield at door latch. Pinch the exposed adhesive surfaces together to secure the water shield. Check to insure water shield is not showing through the door shut-face latch access hole. See Figure B.

13. Attach cable to inside door handle assembly and snap cable housing into slot.
NOTE: Make sure the cable housing is fully seated.

14. Check the gap as shown in remote control using a 3/16 drill bit shank end. The drill bit shank should fit in the gap without any clearance and a tight fit is preferred. See Figure C.

15. If the drill bit is too loose or does not fit, adjust by bending the cable bracket as required.

16. Place plastic wedge on remote bracket as shown. Wedge must fit with at least a light press fit for retention. See Figure D.

17. After installation, Apply a dab of special Teflon grease, supplied with the service cable to cable housing openings at inside handle end. The grease should surround and contact the cable all the way around, to seal the opening between the cable and the cable housing.

18. Check all latch functions to insure correct assembly of latch system. If the inside handle does not release properly, replace the inside handle remote release mechanism.

19. Reposition and install trim panel using new push pins if required.

1. This is what probably occured
2. While the door was open the latch on the door was closed
3. If the spring inside the latch is broken, Working the inner or outer door release handles will not open the latch.
4. place a screwdriver in the opening of the latch where the door striker would be if the door was closed.
5. apply pressure to the latch paw while operating door release.
6. latch should open.
7. replacement of the latch will keep this from happening again

its a easy fix pull the inner door panal and re conect the push and pull rods to your inner and outer handle

Sounds like the door latch mechanism is worn out.

The door latch mechanism for your door is operated by rods, from the inside door handle, and the outside door handle.
It is highly unlikely, (Though not impossible), that all those two rods have fallen off. (Spring clips hold the rods in place. Opening Rod Control Clip. In the link below they are shown as Item E)

With the window all the way down, carefully use a long flat tip screwdriver, to push down on the lever for the door latch mechanism, to open the door. Make sure the lever for the door lock, in the door latch mechanism, is in the fully unlock position.

This link may help show you the inner door hardware, I'm referring to above,

http://www.mamotorworks.com/corvette-c3-door-hardware+1968+1982-inner-1-106-9491.html

You can see that when you pull out on the inner door handle, it pulls a rod forward. This rod is attached to a Bellcrank. The Bellcrank in turn pulls down on another rod, which pulls down on a small lever in the door latch mechanism, to release the door latch.

When you push down on the outside door handle, it pushes a small rod that is attached to that same lever as the inner door handle. Looking down through the window opening in the door, it is that lever that you're trying to push down, to open the door.

Viewing down through the window opening, try to operate the outside door latch a little. Watch to see what lever it tries to move. That's the lever you have to move Down, with the flat tip screwdriver.

With the door open, it is a matter to check out,

1.The Inside Door Opening Control, (The inside door handle is attached to it), to see if the locking part of it is functioning correctly. Make sure that it goes to the full Unlocked position.

2.The Door Latch Mechanism. Make sure it is functioning correctly. It, along with the various door hardware parts inside the door, needs to be lubricated at specific intervals. The more it's used, the higher the interval rate goes up. (I find that owners seem to Skip this task a lot! I use Lubriplate White Lithium spray)

To replace the door latch mechanism, I suggest you buy a manual for your car, so you can view all of the door hardware to remove, to remove the door panel. Then view how the spring clips come off of the rods, and the three screws come out of the door latch mechanism.

You need to remove the inner door panel (will have a couple screws in the inner door handle and push pins around the outside. Inside the door are thin metal rods connected by plastic connectors. Check all the connectors, especially at the inner and outer handles. If they both failed at the same time, I would suspect the latch itself.