iPhone data only functioning in certain situations??

If I use my 3GS (with 5 bars, Edge or 3G) and try to go on the Facebook app, it will never load. If I do a google search in Safari, it won't load. BUT, if I go to bookmarks and touch one of the bookmarks, the page loads no problem, and then everything else starts to work again. But after a while, if I don't use data, it will stop and I have to repeat the process again of clicking a bookmark. I've been doing this process consistently over months now, so it's not just isolated to a week. I've read threads about people having problems loading data even with 5 bars, but why do you guys think the internet on the iPhone is "turned on" when I click a link/bookmark?

 

But do they have the same issue where their connection jumpstarts again once they select a bookmark? I used to try and cure it by turning airplane mode on/off (sometimes I'd have to repeat it 2-3 times), but the bookmark trick seems to work consistently now...

 

Both. I'm wondering if restoring it will change anything, as in resetting all settings..