Sliding door lock problem - help ?

[Roadiesean]

Hi
I’m having a problem with my sliding door which won’t open with the inside or outside handle. It’s a manual door. So, the plastic collar that holds the bar that opens the rear part of the door sheared off so I replaced it thinking it would sort it which it has but it will break again immediately because the element of the lock that drops down before the door unlocks with the handle can open it.
The photo I’ve attached shows what happens when you drop the lever with your finger (it then opens perfectly). Obviously I’ve never seen this in action when it isn’t broken so I’m guessing but I feel like something has broken in the drop down element.

Anyone got any ideas or do I need a whole new lock ??

Thanks
Sean

 

[mrcheesbrough]

So what happens to that lever when you operate the mechanism using the internal or external handle? Surely pushing that bit of mechanism will only disengage the one catch leaving the other holding the door in a closed position. Difficult to offer much useful advice without seeing things first hand.


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[Roadiesean]

Not easy to explain. The door handle when it opens pulls the white clip and the rod to the left and it looks like the thing my finger is on is supposed to drop first but it isn’t, so when you open the door handle it just gets stuck on the bit that sticks up. Here’s what it looks like if I don’t pull the trigger down.

 

[mrcheesbrough]

I see. I think I’d be tempted to remove the entire mechanism to check out the side that’s hidden. It appears the two Allen bolts are all that hold it in place. It may be come apparent what’s missing, twisted or misaligned when you can see the entire thing. Before you remove it though have you tried holding the locking plunger up while operating a handle to open it? The front door catches are susceptible to these dropping under their own weight which locks the door.


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[Roadiesean]

Hi, thanks for your help, no its definitely not associated with the "snib" or locking plunger, that is working perfectly. I'll try and pull it off, but I have to say I have no idea what it should actually look like !

 

[Roadiesean]

So a cable tie pulling the lever down and out of the way works. No idea what the purpose of it would be. Some sort of added security I guess. Hope it will hold shut okay. It seems to.

 

[sidepod]

Is there a spring broken/missing?

Micro-fiche any one?
I have the VW manual on my lap top but......that’s upstairs

 

[mrcheesbrough]

So a cable tie pulling the lever down and out of the way works. No idea what the purpose of it would be. Some sort of added security I guess. Hope it will hold shut okay. It seems to.

Well that’s one work around. I’m pretty convinced it’s to do with the locking mechanism but couldn’t begin to work out how or why it’s not working without having one to see in action. As @sidepod says it could be a missing spring. Is there anything laying loose in the bottom of the door that looks like it doesn’t belong?


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[Roadiesean]

It feels like that’s what has happened. Can’t see anything in the bottom of the door. It’s impossible to see down there on the sliding door. Can I post a video on here ???

 

[sidepod]

I’m not sure if this is the same year but the spring could be the key to your issue?

 

[Roadiesean]

Thanks @sidepod unfortunately no, thats not it, mine is a straight pull to the rear end of the door, there is definitely a spring on this and its still attached, but it pulls it into the "locked" position, not down. What appears that should be happening, is as you open the door handle, the bar with the big circle in the middle of that photo of mine rotates around that circle or pin clockwise, it pulls the long straight bar that opens the back of the door and it would seem that the thing I am pulling downwards, should actually pull itself down, but it just isn't doing that any more. with the jerry rigged cable tie outcome at least I can lock and open the door it doesn't seem to be a problem. The only video I have seen of it shows that lever that I am pulling down has been removed, so I'd say its a regular problem. Have you got the fiche for a 1994 @sidepod?

 

[sidepod]

No that apparently is Eurovan ‘92 onwards. That’s all I got.

Are you sure this isn’t the remains of a circular spring?

 

[sidepod]

 

[Roadiesean]

Thanks for looking @sidepod. It looks like the spring is still in place though I can’t see that it looks broken. No idea.

 

[mrcheesbrough]

So I’m wondering if your mechanism is missing the rubber block (circled). There are two of these, one visible from the side you’ve taken photos and the other when the catch is removed. I think this may be linked to the movement of your problem catch. This is purely guess work mind as I don’t have a vehicle or sliding door catch to hand right now.

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[Rosjammer2018]

Hi @Roadiesean I am new to the forum but have the same problem. Just wondering if you sorted it?

 

[davd]

Hi! I have the same problem! I don't have any idea how its working and why that lever its blocking to open with the inside or outside handle. I had to remove the spring to use the door. Any idea?? how did you solve it? Thanks!