I believe double latching locks are required by the Feds, and have been so
since around the early sixties.

Karl Wolz

-----Original Message-----
From: Bulley <gmbulley@BULLEY-HEWLETT.COM>
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Date: Monday, April 19, 1999 4:32 PM
Subject: Re: hatch door difficult to latch

>The reason for having two "clicks" to the lock is simple:  Safety.
>
>It I recall correctly about two years ago, Chrysler had a problem with
>their rear hatch on the minivan.  The problem was, they used a single click
>lock.  The lock would pop open in rear end collisions.
>
>From I understanding, the two clips are there so that if you do not close
>the door completely, at least one latch is still holding the door closed.
> If both "clicks" are engaged, the latch is less likely to fail in an
>accident.
>
>Hope this helps,
>
>G. Matthew Bulley
>Bulley-Hewlett & Associates
>www.bulley-hewlett.com
>Cary, NC USA
>888.468.4880 tollfree
>
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From:   KENWILFY@AOL.COM [SMTP:KENWILFY@AOL.COM]
>Sent:   Monday, April 19, 1999 9:40 AM
>To:     vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
>Subject:        Re: hatch door difficult to latch
>
>I was looking at the lock mechanism the other day.  There isn't an
>adjustment
>on the mechanism itself (maybe on the lower part -the rod that sticks up).
>The mechanism has two "steps".  Anyone have any idea why it has two steps
>instead of just one?  My only guess is that incase the final step gets worn
>out the first one might hold the door shut or maybe if you shut the door
>without any force the first one would catch (though the door would be a
>little loose).
>The only other thing you might be having a problem with is either your rear
>door seal (maybe it has come loose in some spot and is jamming between the
>door and the body) or the rubber spacers in the two, bottom corners of the
>door.  These could be adjusted out too far (how this could happen I don't
>know) and not allow the door to move close enough to the latch without
>extra
>effort.
>Let me know what you discover.
>Ken Wilford
>Van-Again
>John 3:16
>PS If I knew everything I would have won several lotteries and be emailing
>you from my own personal island somewhere in the pacific. :)
>