I have the same problem, only I don't have a plastic piece, I have a
screw i put in. Anyone have that plastic piece?
On Monday, August 25, 2003, at 06:54 PM, mark drillock wrote:

> There is a simple way to "fix" it so that the knob stays up. I forgot
> about it when I replied earlier though I have done it a couple of
> times.
>
> Remove the black knob by unscrewing it.
> Buy some clear plastic tubing at the hardware store. You need less than
> an inch, they may just give it to you but it may cost .30 for a foot.
> It
> should fit freely over the shaft part of the knob but not over the knob
> itself. Cut the tubing slightly longer than the smooth part of the
> shaft, just overlapping some of the threads.
> Screw the knob back into place with the tubing on the shaft. The tubing
> will slightly compress and now the knob will stay up due to friction of
> the plastic tube against the door.
>
> Mark
>
> mark drillock wrote:
>>
>> Sorry, it is broken. The little black knob is supposed to stay up by
>> itself. The 80-84 models are prone to this failure. A tiny spring
>> breaks
>> and then the little black knob won't stay up and the door locks itself
>> every time you close it. The whole latch assembly is riveted together
>> so
>> I don't know how to fix it. I buy working ones at the junkyard and
>> replace them. The later models don't seem to fail this way but they
>> won't fit the early door.
>>
>> Mark
>>
>> Jessup Coffin wrote:
>>> ...
>>> Now though, I'm curious, is there anyway to make it possible to open
>>> the
>>> sliding door without fiddling with the black knob every time?
>>> guessing that
>>> it's some kind of child proofing lock, but it's also mostly me
>>> proof. grin.
>>> 82 vanagon.
>>>
>
>