Date: Fri, 23 Mar 2001 22:29:33 -0600
Reply-To: Steve Sandlin <vwcarlocks@HOTMAIL.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Steve Sandlin <vwcarlocks@HOTMAIL.COM>
Subject: Re: Rear Tailgate Lock Question
Content-Type: text/plain; format=flowed
Hi, Tom,
Would the key turn the lock cylinder, or was it stuck? If it would not
turn, the problem is in the lock cylinder itself and is probably a bent
wafer or broken spring. If the lock turned, It could have been an alignment
problem with the tailpiece not being able to align itself with the release
on the latch. The latch could have been stuck, also and needing
lubrication. If the problem is in the lock cylinder, it is repairable.
Steve Sandlin
Steve's Lock Shoppe
http://www.steveslockshop.com
'84 Wolfsburg Westy
'79 Transporter
'00 New Beetle
>From: Tom Young <tomyoung1@HOME.COM>
>Reply-To: Tom Young <tomyoung1@HOME.COM>
>To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
>Subject: Rear Tailgate Lock Question
>Date: Fri, 23 Mar 2001 15:29:22 -0800
>
>Hi all:
>
>Although my van has been hit in the back hard enough to slightly dent
>and push in the tail gate, the lock has continued to work OK. That
>is, it did until the other day when it absolutely refused to unlock!
>After trying everything (lube in lock, using all the copies of that
>particular key, etc.) I finally broke down and removed the interior
>panel so I could get at the latch mechanism itself and get the door
>open.
>
>(As an aside, I'd never looked at this lock before and I'll describe
>the mechanism for anyone that's curious. The key cylinder itself has
>a "tail" that's about an inch or so long. When the lock is in the
>"unlocked" position the tail is in the position to actuate the
>spring-loaded latch mechanism itself. That is, when you push in the
>chrome button on the outside the tail pushes the latch, releasing the
>door. When the lock is in the "locked" position the tail is
>positioned *above* the latch mechanism, so pressing the outside chrome
>button causes the tail to "miss" the latch, and you can't open the
>door.)
>
>Anyway, after opening the door I tried to unlock the lock... and it
>unlocked just fine! Tried several times locking and unlocking,
>closing the door, opening the door, etc., etc., and everything seems
>to be copasetic. Before I order a new set of clips for the hatch
>panel (I ended up having to bust them off since I couldn't seem to get
>them to "unpop" from the door without risking tearing up the panel
>itself) does anybody have any insight as to what might have gone wrong
>here? I'd hate to have to go through this whole exercise again.
>
>TIA.
>----------------------------------------------------------------------
>-----
>Tom Young tomyoung1@home.com
>Lafayette, CA 94549 '81 Vanagon
>----------------------------------------------------------------------
>-----
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