Date:         Thu, 6 Mar 2008 22:34:15 -0500
Reply-To:     Joe Federici <joefederici@EARTHLINK.NET>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Joe Federici <joefederici@EARTHLINK.NET>
Subject:      Re: troubleshooting sliding door operation
In-Reply-To:  <20080307002320.661961E82A6@tc2.main.nc.us>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII; delsp=yes; format=flowed

Do you find it's any different in the cold of the winter then the
heat of the summer? Does or has the rear hatch ever popped open so
the rear of door pops out slightly when your driving. I'm inclined to
say it's the rear latch. I would try adjusting it, per the manual.
Usually it's a matter of the latch coming straight out just ever so
slightly so it latches sooner anf the bolt sits further in the latch.
Depending on how bad/old it is you might try replacing. That rear
hatch cost around 40.00

JFF


On Mar 6, 2008, at 6:57 PM, Edward Maglott wrote:

My '86 wolfsburg model sliding door is finicky about being closed
just right.  Too hard and it "bounces" open, too soft and it doesn't'
latch all the way.  I looked at all the Bentley stuff on it, and it
appears to be properly aligned.  I looked at the latch mechanism at
the rear of the door.  There is the part that rotates and grabs the
post on the van body (I will call that the latch), and the part that
holds the rotating part once it has latched on the post ( I will call
that the pawl).  The pawl action seemed a little sluggish, so I used
some WD40 on the pivot points of both it, and the latch.  No
change.  Any advice?

Edward