87 Vanagon sliding door won't latch

[robertgriner]

For me, GUZYK's suggestion won out. I opened the panel (just 'cause I need to check on the actuator for my centralized lock), but ended up making an adjustment on the frame bolt.

I marked its current location, and moved it out (away from the van). I had also adjusted it upward, but upon looking at it when in the closed position, it was pressed toward the top of the mechanism and I didn't want to raise the door or stress the latch.

Thanks SAMBA!
Bob

[BillWYellowstone]

To finish off my part of the thread, the latch came in, the dry run made it east to swap outt. Getting adjusted is a little trial and error, but got it done, all is good. But, (doesn't everything have a butt?) in very cold weather, sometimes it will do the bounce again. I am guessing the lube I used gets thick and the timing is off.

I may just buy an extra to keep on hand.
_________________
Live Fulltime in motorhome
Have 86 Westy Camper 2.1 rebuilt
Work in Yellowstone NP year round.

[geo_tonz]

I just read through this to solve a non-latching door on my '89. One additional comment I can make is it was far easier for me to pop the slider mechanism cover off (2 screws) and take the whole door off (no tools, just check your Bentley) and lay it on a blanket to work on. Then I could easily access the latch square-on with an impact driver and it came apart in no time. I tried with the door on the vehicle but the Philips-head bolts would not cooperate and I was very nervous I'd scratch/dent the van, bend something or mess up a roller mechanism when beating on the impact driver (with my hand to "guard" the quarter pannel).

Once I had the door off and made short work of removing the latch I then removed the spring on the lower latch tooth, stretched it out and put it back in, now tighter. I also filed the catch on the upper tooth to be more square and angle in as mine had rounded a bit. I also cleaned, blew out with compressed air and lubed the latch while I had it out and added a little grease to the roller channels on the van before I put the door back on. It's not quite perfect but I think a little catch-post adjustment and it will be fine. If you close it nicely it latched 90% of the time. My wife thinks she has to slam it and then it sometimes doesn't catch right.

Taking the door off is very easy and gives you a chance to check out all the roller mechanisms and check for hidden under-the-cover rust. I did it by myself, but the door is a bit heavy and help might not be a bad thing.

Watch this before you bend something:

Link

_________________
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"Ron Burgundy": 1991 Vanagon Multivan (Weekender) 2.1L Auto - Driver/Camper

[mtnphan]

bookmarked. I think I will need to be doing this soon.
_________________
'85 Wolfsburg Westfalia 2.2 Subie

[natep73]

I have a 2001 eurovan with the same bouncing problem. Does anyone know if it is the same design/solution??
_________________
69 Bug (died)
73 Superbeetle (sold)
73 Thing (sold) +missed
80 Vanagon weekender(sold)
01 Eurovan MV (sold)
01 Eurovan GLS (sold)
03 Eurovan Weekender
03 New Beetle Convertible
73 Riviera- one day it will run again
74 Thing

[VANGAUX]

For years I have been plagued by the sliding coming partially unlocked when driving on washboard type roads. I tried all the suggested adjustment remedies and eventually adjusted the striker pin (Bentley pic 58-231) so that the door would stay closed on the roughest of roads but there was a slight gap at the bottom right of the door and daylight was visible through that gap.

Recently I saw where GoWesty and VanCafe were selling a replacement spring kit for the central lock (Bentley pic 58-267) that replaced the weak springs with new ones.
http://www.gowesty.com/ec_view_details.php?id=23924&category_id=400&category_parent_id=
or
http://www.van-cafe.com/home/van/page_2073_1085/sliding_door_latch_spring_kit.html

The new springs solved my problem and I was able to adjust the striker pin so the door closed tightly all around without the door bouncing back when closed or popping open on rough roads.

While the instructions indicated to just pull back the front of the door panel to unclip the release cable from the front sliding door lock (Bentley pic 58-197), I completely removed the door panel. And since I used a #3 phillips head bit with a bit adapter on a socket wrench, I did not harm the bolt heads and reused them.

Harold

[tosimplify]

I've been putting up with this issue for the past week or so. I picked up the aforementioned spring kit at GoWesty today, but until I get around to doing the repair, a single strategically placed C-clamp is doing the job quite nicely:

I've since stopped using the bungie cord in the picture, as the C-clamp works great all on its own. Not a long term solution of course, but I thought I'd pass this along as a good way to keep the door shut in a pinch.

[shadetreetim]

Thanks for reminding me I need to adjust my latch and/or buy this spring kit. My door has popped open in cold weather a couple of times. Then I forget about it in warmer weather.
_________________
Tim Potts

Doing my best every time I drive it to dispel the myth these Vanagons have to be slow!


'89 Vanagon Bluestar/Country Homes 1.8T & .77 4th
'74 Jeep CJ5

[888]

I did a search and I believe this is the closest I've found to a thread that describes my problem. I have an 81 Vanagon L "barn find" that came out of the barn with the door open about 3 inches and it will not close any further than maybe 2 inches.

The slider mechanism attached to the door that rides in the track on the body starts to raise up inside the trackwork if I try to close it any further.

It also will not open properly unless I move ithe C shaped rod (connecting the door to the slider mechanism in the body track) out away from the van body. Meaning, the C rod is more parallel/less perpendicular to the body, and then the door will ride the track just fine.

I've cleaned and lubed the tracks with no success and used PB Blaster on the moving bits of the slider and latch, including the C pin.

What appears to be happening is that the C pin is attached to a cable running back inside the door and that cable has to allow the C pin to pivot and become parallel with the door for the door to close.

I'm planning on removing the sliding door panel to access the guts of the slider but if someone has seen this before and knows for sure what's going on, I'd sure like some advice.

The 81 came out of the barn on 4 flats and I've stolen the spare from my 72 bus and the spare from the Vanagon but I'm still short good tires to roll the 81 so I can't get it in the barn so the door needs to be closed.

Thanks

Joe

[zackalope]

[DubDzo]

my mechinism is just shot , i used the gowesty springs along with the lube , i even adjusted the height of that bolt looking part but the latch is so warn its not catching. if plastic would hold up i would just print the damn thing but.... im almost sure its just going to break after the second time shutting

[Altoona]

[Uniform8]

Thanks for the info - I have the same problem of the door partially unlatching on a rough road. I have put in the go-westy spring kit and lubed the sliding mechanism - but will now try moving the bolt and filing the hooks.

[jphelps32]

I too am suffering from this problem and it also happened suddenly. However I have replaced and greased the springs and adjusted the latch post to no avail. The contact points are quite worn. Is anyone making replacement parts? Would love any help or new ideas. today the door opened 4 times in 15 minutes of city driving.

[termuehlen]

[baltik]

So if I I shut my slider - it latches but doesn't close all the way - there is still a gap between the door and the body. If I simply push on the door it then closes completely without drama. This essentially makes it impossible to close the door all the way from the inside. Based on these symptoms - do I need to replace/tighten the spring on the rear latch or adjust the pin?

[baltik]

Attempted to install the replacement gowesty latch springs to fix my problem but as you can see the lower bolt would not cooperate - any ideas?

[0to60in6min]

[VWagabond]

[VWagabond]