On my '87 Westy I didn't need to take the whole panel off.  The connector is
probably reachable if you start popping it loose from the top rear of the
panels and looking inside.  I did this to silence the "dance of the door
locks" until I could replace actuators.  And the locks will still work with
the key.

Good Luck,
Tom Salicos
'87 Syncro Westy EG-33

> >-----Original Message-----
> >From: Vanagon Mailing List
> >[mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf Of Ben Cichowski
> >Sent: Tuesday, November 13, 2007 3:45 PM
> >To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> >Subject: Electric Lock Disconnect?
> >
> >Hi all,
> >
> >I've got an 88 Wolfburg with electric locks that are acting
> >up. Same problems as posted a number of times in the
> >archives - push them down and they auto pop back up. I think
> >it is binding in the rear hatch....but right now, I don't
> >have the time to fix them - bigger fish to fry.
> >
> >Anyone had luck just popping off the door panels and
> >disconnecting the wiring to the two front door locks? - Is
> >this a good temp fix, or do the locks then not work at all?
> >The sliding door locks no matter what, and I'm not worried
> >about the rear hatch for now.
> >
> >Just wanted to know ahead of time - those panels don't like
> >to come on and off too many times with those plastic pop tabs.
> >
> >Thanks,
> >Ben
> >
> >