Hi Tom,

     What you're describing was the beginning of the end for my sliding
door handle. I suggest pulling it off and looking at it --- it's sort of
cheap metal where mine broke on the inside and I'm not sure you could
repair it. If you want another door handle, I got a used one from Chris
Turner (Jordanvw@aol.com on this list) or the Bus Depot has them new as
well. Let me know if you find a source for those clips. I indeed broke a
few when I changed the door handle. If they're cheap enough I'm going to
buy a big bagful --- I'm sure I'll be needing them again.

Cheers,
Doug
'84 Westy
Toronto, canada

From: "ThomasD. Hanlon" <hanran@EARTHLINK.NET> on 01/12/2000 11:15 AM

Please respond to "ThomasD. Hanlon" <hanran@EARTHLINK.NET>

To:   vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
cc:
Client:
Subject:  Sliding Door Handle

Listees,

Instead of the sliding door handle being situated at the normal 9
o'clock and 3 o'clock position, it is now drooping to a 7 o'clock and 1
o'clock position.  Opening the door is becoming increasingly difficult,
especially in the cold I experienced in two trips North, one 3,500 r/t
miles to Banff, Canada and one 3,500 r/t to St.Louis via San Antonio,
within the last two months..

Removal of the panel on the door interior, to access the mechanism,
looks to be simple enough, but the local VW dealer has a "no longer
available" report on the clips (beige plastic discs) for the panel, and
I am sure I will break more than one.

Has anyone had a similar situation with the sliding door handle?
Sources for the parts and for the clips?  Bentley and Haynes  provide
sufficient information to replace the mechanism.  The problem appears to
me to be a worn element, though, probably the shaft of the handle, and a
minor component to replace, if the panel can be removed without too much
damage, using the "tableknife" technique posted on the List recently.

Tom Hanlon
Palm Springs, CA
84 Westy

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