I know this will be a school boy issue to most.....

Opened my side door fully today and it locked open. Quick google and I used a knife to knock the little latch mounted on the rear panel off so I could release the side door and close it.
My question(s) are, how should this latch/lock operate on the side door? Should it release from the handle, or something else? And how do I go about fixing it?

This happened in front of all the extended family so was quite embarrassing.

Cheers

 

did ye try wd40 to losen the catch up

 

It’s supposed to latch and will release when you lift the handle

 

^this. It latches so the sliding door doesn't crush you when parked facing downhill. The handle should release the rear catch. If it doesn't, may be broken linkage/cable inside door.

 

Mine will only un latch by the interior handle !!!

 

learn something new everyday............I have always used a finger to un-hook it. I will try the handle next time. if its broke what's the fix for it.....

 

Take the panel off and see if the pull-bar thingy is attached to the rear lock from the front one (later Bays)

 

Cheers guys

 

If it is locking fully open, the catch that is being used is one of the hooks coupling with a catch just above the door handle mechanism . You can undo the screws on that little panel and move it around so the little moving bit in there catches the hook when the door slides back, and gets out of the way when you pull the handle down, to release the door and let it slide forwards.

 

Right, I'm still confused, got the panel off the door but can't see how that works the little latch/hook/spring thing?

 

On the top of the mechanism that your handle attaches to there’s a steel bar that exits from the top
It should be connected to another piece higher up in the door

 

Right,
Think I've sussed it. If I remove the plate, anyone got an image of what should be there?

 

You should have a metal bar that connects #20 to #29 - https://volkswagen.7zap.com/en/usa/type 2/t2/1979-29/8/843-75000/#18

 

The bit of metal looks like it might be there (something painted blue coming out of thr top of the lock) but flopped forwards so it is missing going through the slot further up above the lock under part 29.
It should go straight up and hook on a pin poking out of a lever in part 29.
This then opens and closes a latch in the slot in 29 that catches on a hook attached to the block at the front end of the track on the side of the bus. This has to be adjusted by slackening the screws on 29 and sliding it up and down until opening the outside handle makes the latch open on 29, and it catches on the hook when the door is fully open.
So it doesnt break your leg on a hill by sliding shut suddenly when you start to climb out.

 

Read your post, mine now works, first thing I've fixed on my bay, I'm over the moon

 

Any good with engines?

 

I'd guess not.....

 

Not even amateur, plain clueless.

However today I had the idea that I'm going to throughly wash out a Toilet Duck bleach bottle and fill it with oil so I can easily top up the oil in the confined space, so borderline genius.

 

It probably won't be the last thing you have to fix...…….