Club 80-90 Forums

Hi, we have a Feb 1984 van RHD. The sliding door handle has always been a bit stiff to open from the outside but it got worse and now it has sheared off when my husband was trying to open it. Obviously we need to get a replacement handle, but have a few questions we hope someone can help with.

1. What might have caused this to happen other then old age (the van not my husband)? I dont want to shell out for a new handle and then break that one too.
2. Locks - can we get the barrel out of the old lock to out in to the new one (if so how), or can we get the new lock barrel adjusted so we can use the old key which also fits the front doors by a locksmith?
3. is there any guidance on how to fit the handle/adjust the lock - I think we also need to work out how to get the rest of the handle out of the lock.

Hope you can help thanks, Janine

4. Anyone know the OEM number for the handle please? JK have one number 251-843-704 and Custom & Commercial have one number 252-843-703. I know we need the 'early long handled' one as our van was made in Feb 1984. Both sound like the right handle from their descriptions.

Thanks, Janine

1. Other than old age, probably nothing. It's a 31 year old door handle with a lot of pressure on the handle. Metal fatigue will have caused this.
Yes it might happen again to a new handle, but not for another 30 years.

Thanks Jonathan. We thought it was just metal fatigue but nice to have you confirm that. Cant wait to get the new handle fitted so we can open the door easily in future. Janine

Broke mine a couple of weeks ago, 5 minutes to replace with a new one. Complete new VW one with new keys, not cheap but pointless using a s/h one IMHO. You could see that cracks had been there for years.I would expect the old barrel to be quite worn - if you could get it out, mine was totally corroded in and useless.
Single screw on the inside holds it in.

Thanks. I agree, need a new one not a SH one. Might just have to have 2 keys then, not a problem tho. Are you happy to share how much you paid for the handle - was it from VW themselves? Regards, Janine

VW heritage, £70+.....ouch! But it is a genuine one not a cheap copy (if there is such a handle). It is surprising how much you miss that handle.
https://www.vwheritage.com/shop/2528437 ... src=slider - Double check which handle you need, this one is for vans up to 84, it should include 84. - they only have 1 left of the later one.

Great thanks. I saw that one but wasnt sure if it was the right one for our van as it was made in Feb 1984 and we have the longer handle version and I couldnt tell from the photo and description. Very helpful thank you.

Or try here

http://www.volkswagenemporium.co.uk/sho ... ftupto1984" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Genuine VW for £55

Speak to brickwerks.

http://www.brickwerks.co.uk/index.php/s ... l?___SID=U" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

If you send them your spare key they will rebuild your lock to match your existing key for an extra £20 +vat. I always give them a quick email and there extremely helpful and advise how long a part will take if out of stock.

Is the spring that causes the right hand side of the sliding door to 'pop' out when you pull the handle working ok?
Mine wasn't until recently and it meant I was putting huge strain on the handle to pull the door out a bit before I could start sliding it back.

Mine broke in the exact same place. The sliding door handle is the one thing I hate most about T3's.
Mine was an 84, and it was an early handle, and I picked up a replacement from JustKampers, and swapped the barrel lock over.

pat_cope wrote:Is the spring that causes the right hand side of the sliding door to 'pop' out when you pull the handle working ok?
Mine wasn't until recently and it meant I was putting huge strain on the handle to pull the door out a bit before I could start sliding it back.

Is this the big spring inside the door?

new handle plus your old key to dan Simpson and it will be only a fiver
mm

keytouch wrote:

pat_cope wrote:Is the spring that causes the right hand side of the sliding door to 'pop' out when you pull the handle working ok?
Mine wasn't until recently and it meant I was putting huge strain on the handle to pull the door out a bit before I could start sliding it back.

Is this the big spring inside the door?

It's the spring inside this part of the slider:

The spring and spring retainer(s) look like: (The retainer is part# 251843393, this was broken on mine).

Yes zinc alloy,not good for that purpose, thats why paint won't stick on them for long.