Thanks, Larry,
You sure nailed the problem. I could lock but only sometimes could I unlock the hatch using the remote.
Removed panel, and, looking through the circular hole in the interior metal panel, I can see the lock rod move back and sometimes forth. Spritzed a little Tri-Flow where a whitish plastic part slides on a dark rod. Voila, consistent back and forth lock rod movement and consistent locking and unlocking of the hatch.
Jack Botts
Columbia, MO
'86 Vanagon Westfalia Weekender
'14 Passat SE TDI

Date: Tue, 11 Aug 2015 07:30:14 -0400
Subject: Re: Hatch Lock -- With Power Door Locks
From: lalofs@gmail.com
To: johnnyjewel43@hotmail.com
CC: vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com

Just go for it.  The hardest part will be removing the inner panel from the hatch w/o breaking too many of the plastic pins.  This might also be a good excuse to buy a #3 Phillips if you don't have one.
Larry A.

On Mon, Aug 10, 2015 at 6:37 PM, Jack Botts <johnnyjewel43@hotmail.com> wrote:
Last week Larry A. wrote the following regarding operation of the rear hatch power lock:

"There is a little spring loaded pin that slides back and forth and drops

into a detent at each end.  This area must be lubricated well.  Upon close

inspection you may also find a slight ridge in the casting that interferes

with the pins motion when you are unlucky.  Changing the shape of the

casting slightly with a file or Dremel will improve operation."

I have intermittent poor behavior of my hatch power lock, and lubrication maybe part of the solution..

Question: Can I remove the latch from the hatch without springs and other parts flying into hidden corners of my garage? Also, will any adjusting be necessary after re-installing the latch, like for properalignment of the striker plate?

Jack Botts

Columbia, MO

'86 Vanagon Westfalia Weekender

'14 Passat SE TDI