By the sounds of it there's probably a short in the wiring, most likely in the passenger side door by the symptoms you're experiencing. I'd just take the door panel off and find the short myself if I were you.
The handle you grab to close the door from inside the car has a panel on the face of it. You can pry it off with a flat head screwdriver and access the two bolts under it. I think they're 10mm. The openings are kind of small, so socket with an extension is the way to go.
From there the rest of the door panel is just held on the edges with retaining clips which can also be popped off at the edges with the previously mentioned screwdriver.
All in all 10-15 min the first time you take it off, I can get my door panel off in two minutes from doing car audio work in the door. I've had it off at least 15-20 times :P
