Date:         Fri, 7 Aug 2009 09:52:59 -0700
Reply-To:     Luke Bakken <luke.bakken@GMAIL.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Luke Bakken <luke.bakken@GMAIL.COM>
Subject:      Re: rear hatch lock problem
In-Reply-To:  <c7f.363033d0.37abbb55@aol.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1

On Wed, Aug 5, 2009 at 9:51 PM, David Clarkson<Dvdclarksn@aol.com> wrote:
> I went to unlock my rear hatch a few minutes after closing it and found
> that the lock/latch did not pop and unlatch as usual. Dutifully, I first
> checked  the archives but found nothing really useful. I lubed via the key slot
> to no  avail. I know that I will need to crawl inside and remove or partially
> remove  the interior rear hatch panel to find the problem. My question is
> will I likely  find something broken that will need to be replaced or
> possibly a rod that has  come loose? The diagram in the ETKA is not real clear but
> there does appear to  be a rod that may be possible to slip loose. Anyone
> had this problem? What did  you find or have to fix? Yet another challenge on
> the list of must do/should do  items for the Westy. Thanks everyone.

There is a small rod on which the latch mechanism slides that must be
cleaned and lubed. I also had to file smooth the metal on which the
latch slides as well - each side has an indentation in which the latch
spring extension rests in the open and closed position. The latch must
be able to slide easily *out* of this indentation and that is what was
failing - I had to smooth the indentation so that sliding was
possible. It works great now!

Pmail me if you'd like, this fix is still fresh in my memory.
Luke