I've had the same experience but I've about decided that grabbing the
handle and giving it a good yank to see if its unlocked contributes to
the failure.
To try to get it to last longer I pull the door nearly closed and then
push against the back edge popping the door in and forward to the lock
position.
The problem you outline is very common.
I normally try to pick up a spare or two from *-bay or other list
members.
The later model *shorter handles* work ok too.

Stan Wilder
83 Air Cooled Westfalia

On Thu, 31 Jan 2002 08:36:13 -0700 "William M. Davidson"
<grateful@PLATO.NMIA.COM> writes:
> I have been subscribed for about two days now and I am glad I found
> this list.
>
> Another question I have pertains to the sliding door latch hardware
> on my
> 84 Vanagon.  I guess I didn't have to say it was a Vanagon for this
> list.
>
> It seems to wear out about every 100K miles.  Before anyone tells
> me
> that there is no connection between the mileage I put on the road
> and
> the door latch: I know that.  It just _seems_ to gradually get
> really
> hard to open and then the cast aluminum handle eventually cracks
> about
> every 100K.  This will be the second latch I will be putting in.  I
> took
> out the latch and tried looking for places to lube the thing but
> didn't
> see anything obvious.
>
> Anyone else seen this problem?  Any suggestions?  I guess a $200
> repair
> every 100K isn't that bad. :)
>
> --
> William M. Davidson
> grateful@nmia.com
>
> 1704 Blume, NE
> Albuquerque, NM 87112
> 505 294 4571
>
> Too many people spend money they haven't earned, to buy things they
> don't
> want, to impress people they don't like. -Will Rogers
>
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