when the door is open, check to see if the post at the rear of the door opening about half way up the frame is loose.  It is a post with a hex pattern at the base.  I have seen these get loose and the door doesn't close properly.  Please check this before ordering any parts.

dylan
----- Original Message ----
From: Joseph Fortino <fortino1@EARTHLINK.NET>
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Sent: Thursday, February 8, 2007 8:17:20 AM
Subject: Re: Sliding door popping open

Also a good fix until you get the part is make sure you always lock it, this has helped  me

This leads me to the question, MAN this van would have worked great for a paper route.. ;-)

Peace All,
Joe Fortino

-----Original Message-----
>From: Frank Condelli <RAlanen@AOL.COM>
>Sent: Feb 8, 2007 3:38 AM
>To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
>Subject: Re: Sliding door popping open
>
>In a message dated 07/02/2007 1:17:24 P.M. Eastern Standard Time,
>LISTSERV@GERRY.VANAGON.COM writes:
>
>I've had  this trouble for some time now. Not cold-weather specific
>necessarily. The  back of the slider will pop open every so often when I
>hit a bump. I tried  adjusting the striker and thought I had it licked,
>but it came back again  after a few weeks.
>
>Last week the door actually slid all the way open!  It had popped open
>slightly, as it has many times, on the way home on the  interstate. After
>stopping at the end of my exit ramp, I sort of peeled out  and -whoosh-
>the door opened completely! This has never happened before,  but I was
>also never able to develop any significant acceleration before I  got a
>2.5l Subaru engine 6 months ago.
>
>Is my problem the latch? I've  seen these at Bus Depot and they aren't
>too  expensive.
>
>
>
>
>
>
>This is another common  Vanagon problem.  The latch mechanism, the part on
>the door, is probably  worn and needs replaced.  VW has made a new upgraded part
>so make sure you  get the current NEW version when you order it.  It works
>much better than  the original latch.
>
>Cheers,
>
>Frank  Condelli
>Almonte, Ontario, Canada
>'87 Westy, '90 Carat, '87 Wolfsburg  (Forsale) & Lionel Trains (_Collection
>for  sale_ (http://members.aol.com/Fkc43/trainsal.htm) )
>Vanagon/Vanagon Westfalia Service in the Ottawa Valley
>_Frank Condelli &  Associates_ (http://members.aol.com/Fkc43/busindex.html)
>_Vanagon  Stainless Steel Exhaust Systems_
>(http://members.aol.com/Fkc43/stebro.htm)
>_BusFusion_ (http://members.aol.com/BusFusion/bfhome.htm)  a VW Camper
>camping event, Almonte, ON, June 07 ~ 10,  2007