Club 80-90 Forums

Hello clubbers

I've got an issue with my sliding door. It opens from the outside fine, but from inside, the handle doesn't seem to engage the bowden cable - it moves, but doesn't achieve anything. The lock slider is stuck in a middle position, and won't budge. I can open the door by pulling the cable, but that's not my ideal long term solution to this problem. Any ideas on how to fix it?

Thanks in advance

James

Open the door and see if you have a child safety catch on the front edge of the door.  

I do, but that didn't seem to make any difference. But I took the exterior handle off and when I put it back on, the lock freed up ... so all fixed now (well, pretty much -- the slider lock doesn't stay up -- to open the door I have to hold it in the up position and then crank the handle, but it was always like that)

Thanks for the quick response

How is your internal handle fitted at the moment, vertical or horizontal, most change it to vertical as it opens the door easier and puts less strain on the mechanism.  Also worth moving the grab handle further back as this makes it easier to close when inside.

Maybe time for a replacement, is it an early van, right side lock ?

Yeah, LHD, so right hand slider. I think it’d benefit from a new mechanism, but can’t find one anywhere at the moment

Handle is currently vertical

That sounds remeniscent of the broken rear bracket syndrome...

Have you checked yours?
Rectangular 'guide channel' on the right side of photo has snapped off.



This is my 1983 right hand drive, left sliding door mechanism.
Yours should simply be a mirror image of this.



Mine had not worked for years either.
But works fine when everything is pushed together in the correct alignment.
I will be getting mine welded up in the next few months...

Either replace it for a good unit, or get a competent welder to refit the broken part back on.