You are going to have to get it open.  Take the inside panel off and you can
at least see the lock button and inside lever rods.  Maybe you can beat on
it in the right place.   Make sure it's unlocked and try holding the inside
lever open and push on the door.

Good luck!

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