First of all, VW has the absolute worst locks for cold weather.  If you
think it's hard to close your front doors on an air tight van now, wait
until January.  Brute force needed.  Same with the sliding door, always
popping open.  And very poor water leakage into locks, always icing up.  I
can't tell you how many times I've climbed in through the rear hatch.

I'm wondering if this is related.  Here is the copy of a recall that I found
on the NHTSA.gov website that I think it was Unca Joel mentioned a few weeks
ago:

NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID Number: 85V152000

Component: STRUCTURE:DOOR ASSEMBLY:LATCHES AND LOCKS
Manufacturer: VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA,INC
Year: 1985
Make: VOLKSWAGEN TRUCK
Model: CAMPER
Potential Number of Units Affected: 18328
Manufactured From: JUL 1984 To: MAY 1985
Year of Recall: '85
Type of Report: Vehicle
Summary:
THE LATCH OF THE PASSENGER SIDE SLIDING DOOR MAY BECOME DAMAGED IF EXCESSIVE
FORCE IS USED TO CLOSE THE DOOR. THE DAMAGED DOOR LOCK MECHANISM WILL NOT
PROPERLY ENGAGE AND THE DOOR COULD OPEN IF VEHICLE IS DRIVEN OVER BUMPY
ROADS. CONSEQUENCE OF DEFECT: IF THIS OCCURS THERE IS A POSSIBILITY THAT A
PASSENGER COULD FALL OUT CAUSING INJURY OR DEATH.

MODIFY THE SLIDING DOOR LOCK ASSEMBLY SO DOOR WILL PROPERLY ENGAGE.

SYSTEM: DOOR LOCK.

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: VAN-TYPE WAGON AND CAMPERS.

It says that it applies only to vehicles built between 84 and 85 (which
includes mine), but I thought the mechanism was the same throughout?  I
didn't search for other years, and I don't know if this recall is still in
effect.  Is there a relationship here or coincidence?

Jeff
85 Westy
Winnipeg (preparing for winter)

----- Original Message -----
From: Rico Sapolich <JKrevnov@AOL.COM>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Sunday, October 08, 2000 11:01 PM
Subject: Re: Sliding door opens by itself

> In a message dated 10/8/00 7:12:25 PM, wise@HYPERFORMIX.COM writes:
>
> << Anyone know what might be going on and how to fix it? >>
>
> Tim,
>
> It may be just coincidental but, when I picked up my Syncro the weather
had
> turned cold and the rear latch had turned hinky.  Also, between the time
we
> struck the deal and the time he delivered it, the PO had added a shallow
dent
> near the rear latch.  Apparently, he was also having trouble latching the
> slider.  When I checked it, I found that the fasteners for the mechanism
> mounted to the trailing edge of the door (VW calls it the Central Lock)
had
> loosened.  The mounting screws are countersunk hex socket heads (aka,
Allen
> head) and a little tough to get at but, doable.  I can't remember if I cut
> down a 6 mm Allen wrench to fit or used a short cut off piece with a box
> wrench.  Whatever works.
>
> Rich