On my 1986, I made a pull cord so that the hatch could be opened from
inside.  Looking for where I had pictures of that....  the doo-hickey that
unlatches the hatch, you pull it toward the front of the van to unlatch.
Edward

On Mon, Oct 10, 2016 at 8:17 AM, Larry Alofs <lalofs@gmail.com> wrote:

> Like Dan said.  The second tool looks better.  You need to pry close to and
> on both sides of each clip to minimize damage to the panel..Expect most of
> the clips to break.  The replacements have to fit 5/16" (8 mm) holes.  Not
> easy to find at the average FLAPS.
>   Once the panel is off you can push and pry at the mechanism until you
> discover how to release it.
> If the lock turns, the keys are fine.
>
> Have fun,
> Larry A.
>
>
> On Sun, Oct 9, 2016 at 6:19 PM, Sherry Dawson <dawsonsld@aol.com> wrote:
>
> >  I have a 1986 Vanagon with manual locks.  My rear hatch door will not
> > unlock. The lock will turn and the center button will depress, but the
> lock
> > does not engage.
> >
> > It has worked properly all these years, but became intermittent at
> > unlocking several months ago, and now I cannot get it open at all.  They
> > keys I have are copies--the original VW key has been lost.
> >
> > I have read all the advice I can find online and the general consensus is
> > to remove the inside decorative panel, take the lock apart, clean and
> > lubricate it and reinstall it.  If none of you has any better advice, can
> > anyone tell me how to remove the panel from inside the van without
> damaging
> > it?
> >
> > Thanks!
> >
> >
> >
> > Sherry
> >
>