>From: "Brian Isherwood" <bci@ROADRUNNER.CIRCON.COM>
>Subject: Sliding door handle - outside

>The outside handle is loose and it wiggles quite a bit.  There is
>some serious paint removal along a circular pattern in the door
>handle recess - obviously from the handle scraping the body when it
>is twisted to open the door.  Is there a rubber grommet or something
>that rots out over time?  Or maybe am I missing a crucial part which
>the PO was too cheap to replace?  I've always wondered, but haven't
>lost much sleep over it....

>Anyone?

>Brian.

You are *not* alone.  My scrape/rust spot is only at the top
of the arc in the recess, but it is the same basic problem.
I have an 84 GL.  I have heard that VW changed things in 85
to improve the whole handle assembly workings, but I know of
no *fix* and have not (yet) lost sleep over it.

The 85 *fix* may have made the door open too easily.  Just
ask Tim Schlaile who has a door on his 87 that opens while
driving (even when locked).  THAT I might lose some sleep
over!

-Jim Bryant