Date:         Fri, 13 Aug 2004 09:24:49 -0600
Reply-To:     Simon Reinhardt <simon@FARRSIDE.NET>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Simon Reinhardt <simon@FARRSIDE.NET>
Subject:      Re: sliding door popping open
Comments: To: Jason Willenbrock <pooncerelli@HOTMAIL.COM>
In-Reply-To:  <BAY14-F37NY1SWoBDys0004f775@hotmail.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII; format=flowed

I had something similar happening when I first got my van. Sometimes it
would be obvious that it had not latched properly at the rear- in fact,
the door is a little dented right over the latch, so it obviously had
been a problem for some time. And it would pop open on the road, which
my rear seat passengers thought was a hoot!
If you look carefully at the moving parts on the rear latch, you'll see
that there are two "ledges" on the large, rotating part that catch on
the smaller moving bit. Chances are, the second ledge is not engaging.
Try lubing the moving parts with something that will clean up a little
as well, like a spray lithium grease, or you could remove it from the
van and really clean it up & then use a lithium paste. This simple job
absolutely fixed my door, and there's no trouble 2 years later.

-Simon


On Aug 12, 2004, at 11:22 PM, Jason Willenbrock wrote:

> hey all,
> the other day my sliding door would not close properly.  i would slide
> it
> shut and it would pop right open again.  okay after scratching my head
> a
> little, i started tinkering with its adjustments.  the only adjustment
> i
> could make that would allow it to close was by changing the position
> of the
> metal post (Catch?) on the body of van towards the rear of slider
> door. that
> is the post that the door catches to when closed. anyways, now the door
> closes fine, except when i drive it sometimes opens on its own, real
> dangerous when i have two dogs lying in the rear and i am driving 70
> mph.  i
> guess my question is, is this common?  does this mean the catch
> mechanism on
> door is going bad?  i can not get a perfect alignment that will alow
> the
> door to close properly other then where it is, but with the door
> unexpectantly opening, i am concerned.  incidently locking the door
> does not
> help.
> TIA
> jason
> 87 syncro westy
>