you might need to remove the forward portion of the door panel and help pull on that cable that makes the rear release....
and possibly adjust it for more pull when the handle is turned.
and ........
especially at the rear , spray lube lube lube. 
if the mechanism on the rear of the door has a black plastic cover over it, pry that off .......
sometimes I even have to remove the body panel that covers the tracks.........to really get lube sprayed generously everywhere it's needed.
I lube everything, twice a day for a while...........like 20 times everywhere, over and over.

they made that wind-up spring way too strong inside the door at the rear, but with everything super well lubed, it's not bad.
have fun !
oh...........get inside, and push outward very hard , on the rear edge of the door, while someone holds the outside handle down. that might get it open.
Scott
turbovans
  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Matthew Snook 
  To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM ; wetwesties@yahoogroups.com 
  Sent: Tuesday, September 16, 2008 1:04 PM
  Subject: [WetWesties] Sliding door doesn't

  Argh.

  My sliding door was balking yesterday, opening only hesitantly when I turned
  the handle. It seemed as if something wasn't releasing at the rear latch.
  This morning it refuses to open at all. And helpful hints as to what I
  should look for when I get in there? Maybe all it needs is some good
  lubricant, right? That's the sort of fix I enjoy. But at this point I
  can't even open it.

  Matt

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