I am THISCLOSE to selling this car. I just can't make myself give up on it but something happens one right after the other. We still have some major battery/ignition/wiring crap going on but my issue TODAY is that the drivers door won't open from outside. What the heck is that??

 

Does the lock turn but it doesn't unlock, or is the lock frozen stiff? That makes a difference between having to take the door panel off to dig further inside, to maybe only needing penetrating oil to loosen it back up.

 

It's a power lock and the door lock turns but isn't doing anything. I can open the door from the inside though without doing anything so it sounds a bit "ghosty" to me. I know the wiring in this car is crap but I had 4 good weeks with no issues when I first bought it. That's why I find it hard to believe that everything is being blamed on the wiring. I've put on less than 1000 miles in 7.5 months.

 

Wow, 4 weeks with no problems, you had quite a lucky streak going there!
The lock mechanism (in the end of the door) could be all mucked up and not wanting to move far enough. I would try hitting the latch with some PB Blaster (with the hose attached) and see if that frees it up, assuming that's what the issue is. With the window down, you can also reach the internal mechanisms with some PB Blaster as well.

 

There's a rod that connects the door lock cylinder to the door latch. If the lock cylinder turns using the key but nothing happens, chances are that the rod has disconnected.

This often happens because the clip that keeps the two parts connected is made of plastic. It can crack and fall off, causing the problem you're having.

You'll have to pull the door panel to fix the problem, so read up on that procedure before you do it. The a-hole who removed the driver's door panel on my 94 clearly had *no* idea what he was doing and he pried all around the panel, breaking every single plastic hanger. You want to avoid that.