I had a similar problem on the passenger side... the lock was grumpy.

If you are patient, meticulous, and have tools, you can remove the
lock core from a door handle and disassemble it.  Once disassembled,
you can clean the tumblers and springs and reassemble.  You have to
make sure you get everything back as it originally was (minus the
dirt) or else your lock won't work properly.

The crud in the locks can build up over time (as it always seems to
do in a Vanagon), especially if someone sprays WD-40 or some other
kind of oil in a lock.  Never do that.

Now if I can figure out how to rebuild my power lock actuators, I'll
be really happy....

-Jarrett
89 Westy

On Sep 6, 2006, at 5:37 AM, Woody Halsey wrote:

> Mine is the same ... but for the first 10-15 years I had the V'gon the
> key worked in the driver's door too. In other words, it's the lock at
> this point, not the key.
>
> Woody
> 83.5 V'gon
> Haverhill, MA
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On
> Behalf
> Of Kim Brennan
> Sent: Tuesday, September 05, 2006 11:50 PM
> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> Subject: Re: key code??
>
> I have a similar question. My latest acquistion has one key that
> works all the door and ignition EXCEPT for the drivers door. Is the
> keycode on the other doors too?
>
>
> On Sep 5, 2006, at 11:35 PM, Matthew wrote:
>
>> i want ot get some new keys made and need to provide
>> steve with the key code... ok, where is that code? i
>> ripped apart the ignition and the door lock and didn't
>> really see any obvious code, other than 4 numbers on
>> the door lock. How do you get the core out of the
>> ignition piece?