So after this years wonderful weather (lots of snow in DC, woo!), the lock mechanism for the drivers door on the GoldBrick got so bad, I couldn't lock the door. Well this weekend I finally got around to looking into the issue. I popped the door panel (unnecessary as it turns out.) removed the handle and the latch mechanism. So the first thing I did was use brake cleaner on the door handle innards (removes grease and oil, which frequently have bound dirt dust.) Then I used some WD-40 as a lubricant (temporarily as I didn't have any clean grease or light machine oil handy...I'll correct this next weekend when I have the proper lubricants.) Reassembled and it is amazingly easy to lock the door now. (I also see why thieves don't bother with jimmys on VWs, but instead just knock the door handle off...it's a really simple mechanism.) And maybe next weekend I'll take the sliding doors lock (which is similarly gummed up...the passenge door is operational, though not nearly as easy to turn as my drivers door is now.) |
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