Too much of a challenge to ignore!  You need a bent pick and you can push
down on the locking pawl from inside and push open the door, I just did it.
Roll down the window and work from the outside (remove the trim cover on the
B pillar.  See photo I'm forwarding in a separate email.  Try it on the
other door when it's open and locked substituting a screwdriver for the lock
post and you'll see how this works.

Call me if this doesn't make sense:  206 678 4264.

Stuart

-----Original Message-----
From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf Of
Tom Buese
Sent: Monday, July 08, 2013 2:15 PM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: Drivers Side Door Latch Removal w/ Door Closed?

I have been battling the door lock on my 84 Westy for months now & have not
been able to open the door!
Today in getting ready for West River Westies Campout in Vermont, I finally
took it to a locksmith, who couldn't open it either!
He thinks that the mechanism inside the latch-not the door handle itself- is
broken so no matter how hard you try to pry up on the lever into the latch
it doesn't operate.  It appears that the latch needs to be removed/fixed or
replaced, but how to do w/ door closed?  Drill out machine bolts that anchor
the latch to the door frame from the inside of the door???
Yikes, I hope not!

Help?

Mr. BZ

--
Tom Buese