Another possibility is that the wiring to the doors is either broken or
shorted causing the locks to energized constantly and then over heating
and melting. This happened to mine.

Dennis

-----Original Message-----
From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf
Of JordanVw@AOL.COM
Sent: Saturday, March 04, 2006 11:39 PM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: Re: I have a van with doors that won't unlock... how do I fix?

In a message dated 3/4/06 11:34:13 PM Eastern Standard Time,
mailinglist@FASTFORWARD.CA writes:

> I have a 1986 Syncro Westfalia that I recently purchased (we're doing
an
> "under cover" ALH TDI conversion on it - for sale soon!).  Both the
driver
> and passenger door will not open.  The "up and down" plunger for the
locks
> are stuck in the down position - the key won't open the locks either.
> Popping off the door skin and trying actuate the locks / release
results in
> nothing... anyone with experience with something like this

i had a van like that that was sitting untouched for years and the front
doorlatches were corroded up..i had to spray everything with penetrant
and let it
sit for a day.. gradually freed everything up..   you might try to pop
the
doorpanel off and spray the lock with penetrant..WD40, , liquid wrench,
whatever..

chris