That happens on our 87 also from time to time.   The fix is to put the key
position on the hatch in the vertical position (I think vertical - haven't
had to do it for a while), and then cycle the auto locks by using the key
in one of the front doors, or by using the locking knob on one of the front
doors with the doors closed.    We've had no other trouble with the auto
locks except that the contact plate on the sliding door periodically needs
to have its contact pins and mating plates scraped clean.
After I lock the doors, I always listen for the click to make sure the
sliding door has locked, and then open and close it  (causes it to then
lock), if it hasn't locked the first time.   I also worry that the sliding
door lock motor will not get quite enough juice to lock (due to dirty
contacts) and will therefore continue to draw current and run the battery
down. but this hasn't ever happened - may not draw enough current to be a
problem.

I don't knwo what you need to do to disconnect the auto locking mechanisms
beyond simply unplugging them.   The lock on the hatch might need to have
something mechanical modified to avoid it getting into its hung state.

Dave
87 Wolfsburg (auto door locks...)
90Westfalia (manual locks)

At 10:56 AM 10/12/98 -0400, David-M wrote:
>I just took my newly aquired '87 Vanagon to do its first grocery
>shopping trip.
>Came back to the van with 50 bags of groceries, and the hatch would not
>open. I tried everything. There appears to be no way to open it from the
>inside.
>My van has power door locks.
>Later that day, I did get the hatch open, the trick was to lock all of
>the doors with the key, then the hatch would open.
>According to my owners manual, the hatch key is supposed to override the
>power locks and open the hatch all the time, so something is wrong.
>Is there any way to disable the power door locks throughout my van. I
>have never had a vehicle with them before and I hate them!
>