In a message dated 2/26/04 11:39:27 PM Eastern Standard Time, vw4x4@FYI.NET
writes:

>
> I'll be had on this one. On my 1986 and newer Vanagons the
> front seat belt spools are covered by this big strainge plastic thing.
> My older 1980 Vanagon did not have this.  I'm sick of reaching over the
> thing to unlock the sliding door, from the front pass. door, when you
> don't have the key handy.  So I took it off.  What I found was the
> exact thing that was on the older Vanagons. After removing the spool
> I found that there is a metal plate below, that was installed just to hold
> the platic. I reinstall the spool and have had no adverse effects, so far.
> Now what is this for?    What a waste of money!
>
>
>

actually 84 and newer passenger vans have these dumb covers.  i took mine off
also, for the same reason.  a pain to reach around when locking/unlocking the
slider (on the '84 down you cannot lock the slider and slam it closed, like
on the 85 up..on the 84 down you have to lock it when its already closed)

chris