2003 Eurovan - drivers side door handle

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Joel Spencer - 20 Dec 2006 23:01 GMT

Hello - the outside driver side door handle on our 03 Westfalia has decided
to stop working. You can open the door from the inside, the power locks
work, however nothing happens when trying the outside handle. Any assistance
on how to fix this is greatly appreciated. We've had problems with the
sliding door in the past that turned out to be a fuse, however I don't
understand why it's only the outside handle that doesn't work here, unless
it's something mechanical.

Much appreciation in advance for any insight.

And Happy Everything to Everybody!

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pfjw@aol.com - 21 Dec 2006 02:05 GMT

> Much appreciation in advance for any insight.

Joel:

Our '99 Eurovan Winnebago displays the same behavior if the key is used
on the slider vs. either of the two front doors. We can clear it by
hand-locking it, then cycling the key-lock three or four times.

We also have a child-safety lever on ours that if flipped prevents
releasing the door from the inside. If it is flipped, then the key is
used from the outside the fun really begins as it may not function
either way for a while.

We have learned to be acutely sensitive to when/where we use the key to
*unlock*. We have never had any difficulty if all/any doors are unocked
from the inside in any order.

Peter Wieck
Wyncote, PA

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Matt B. - 21 Dec 2006 02:23 GMT

> Hello - the outside driver side door handle on our 03 Westfalia has
> decided
[quoted text clipped - 5 lines]
> understand why it's only the outside handle that doesn't work here, unless
> it's something mechanical.

it is totally possible...the inside handle and outside handle are two
different handles so either can fail independently of one another.

you'll have to remove the outside handle and see if anything is stuck or
broken and go from there.

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Joel Spencer - 27 Dec 2006 15:25 GMT

Thank you for the replies - you were spot on, it was two screws to remove
the outside door handle and inside was a broken lever that serves as the
latch.

The fix was easy - I took the beloved vehicle in on Christmas Eve and traded
it in. We were probably at the max of the resale value, and hey when the
door handles start to go, well....

The vehicle kept 2/3 of its new sale value over 4 model years. I'm assuming
that's pretty fair. A fantastic investment, the best kid's vehicle ever made
(and why VW didn't take on the minivan market with it just boggles), a sound
vehicle, fun to drive, and the bread truck perspective is an advantage!

Sad to see it go. Goddammed door handles.

On 12/20/06 7:23 PM, in article %dmih.127836$xM4.90253@newsfe07.phx, "Matt
B." <noway@hellno.com> wrote:

>> Hello - the outside driver side door handle on our 03 Westfalia has
>> decided
[quoted text clipped - 11 lines]
> you'll have to remove the outside handle and see if anything is stuck or
> broken and go from there.

Reply to this Message

Matt B. - 27 Dec 2006 17:05 GMT

> Thank you for the replies - you were spot on, it was two screws to remove
> the outside door handle and inside was a broken lever that serves as the
[quoted text clipped - 14 lines]
>
> Sad to see it go. Goddammed door handles.

I do hope it was more than a broken door handle in your decision...

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