I've got a peculiar problem with me '82 Westy.  The PO broke the sliding
door handle off and after buying a replacement from, I believe, an '87
Vanagon, I commenced Restore Slider Handle.  I've been opening the door by
reaching from the passenger door to the interior handle.  I'm not sure the
door ever locked before this mission.

Question #1: Does a functioning door unlock automatically if opened from the
interior?

I removed the panel and unscrewed the handle mounting screw.  I was able to
extricate the broken part of the original handle.  BUT, as I did so I heard
something drop to the bottom of the inside of the door.  Sounded like a
small metal part.  Like the part that actuates the forward latch!  I spent
close to an hour trying to fish out the supposed part, remove the entire
mechanism (one of the screws is practically stripped, one is on its way) and
determining I should leave the door open.

Best I can tell, if I shut the door I won't get it open without removing the
entire mechanism (which I predict will not be enjoyable).  The reason: the
FORWARD latch doesn't raise, despite which handle I use.  I also remember
the PO said the locking mechanism doesn't seem to work.  He dismissed the
issue with, "No problem, there's no exterior handle!"

#2: When ya'll operate your handles does the forward latch raise and lower
while doing so?

#3: Any idea if there are drawings of all these mechanisms online?  I
searched the text and found no help.

#4: Any advice before I begin drilling out the three screws holding the
entire mechanism on?

Thanks for any help you can provide!

Neil in Vancouver, united States

'82 Diesel Westy
Headache

On 3/6/08, Joe Federici <joefederici@earthlink.net> wrote:
>
> Yea, I had a feeling you would say that. I would take a look at that
> rear latch, loosen it, then pull it out ever so slightly and then
> maybe invest in a new one when you can. I think once the summer rolls
> around it will be better as well.
>
> JFF
>
>
> On Mar 6, 2008, at 10:51 PM, Edward Maglott wrote:
>
> Joe,
> Yes to both of your questions.  Tends to work better in warm weather.
> Edward
>
> At 10:34 PM 3/6/2008, Joe Federici wrote:
> > Do you find it's any different in the cold of the winter then the
> > heat of the summer? Does or has the rear hatch ever popped open so
> > the rear of door pops out slightly when your driving. I'm inclined to
> > say it's the rear latch. I would try adjusting it, per the manual.
> > Usually it's a matter of the latch coming straight out just ever so
> > slightly so it latches sooner anf the bolt sits further in the latch.
> > Depending on how bad/old it is you might try replacing. That rear
> > hatch cost around 40.00
> >
> > JFF
> >
> >
> > On Mar 6, 2008, at 6:57 PM, Edward Maglott wrote:
> >
> > My '86 wolfsburg model sliding door is finicky about being closed
> > just right.  Too hard and it "bounces" open, too soft and it doesn't'
> > latch all the way.  I looked at all the Bentley stuff on it, and it
> > appears to be properly aligned.  I looked at the latch mechanism at
> > the rear of the door.  There is the part that rotates and grabs the
> > post on the van body (I will call that the latch), and the part that
> > holds the rotating part once it has latched on the post ( I will call
> > that the pawl).  The pawl action seemed a little sluggish, so I used
> > some WD40 on the pivot points of both it, and the latch.  No
> > change.  Any advice?
> >
> > Edward
>

--
. . . there cannot be done a greater mischief to prince and people, than the
propagating wrong notions concerning government . . . Locke, Second Treatise
of Government, 1690