Barn door locking mechanism replacement

[wackro]

Just been to my local VW 'specialist' and described to them the problem I have with my barn doors (essentially the same as in this thread). Chap told me to get a replacement mechanism (see pic) off ebay, but I've checked and there are none listed as far as I can tell. Is there a recommended seller for this particular part, old or new? Or is it back to a garage for a full price replacement?

 

[Andysmee]

Probably easiest to buy a very dented barn door with a good mechanism in tact. That's how I happened to fix mine, whilst changing my barn doors

 

[wackro]

@Andysmee good shout, I'll check the local breakers yard. Failing that is it possible to order parts directly from vw? If so, do you know how?

 

[northanmonkey]

Ok boys n girls.
I’ve had the lock assembly off the LH barn door of my 2016 T6 to fit a reversing camera. But after refitting. I couldn’t open the door after it had been Locked / unlocked using the external handle.
So after much head scratching and stripping the lock assembly down to understand how it worked. I found this!!!
The rod from the exterior handle operates a simple plunger arrangement. But if the rod protrudes to far into the lock housing. It stops the mechanism resetting. So simply shorten the rod length. And hey presto. It’s fixed.
I’ve bored a hole in the lock mechanism and videoed all the action for you to enjoy.
I have attempted to simulate the rod being too long and how it stops the lever resetting. Then the correct rod length. Hth

 

[GrahamS]

Hi guys & girls, I do apologise for adding to this historic thread but having now taken time to address this on my own van I wanted to share what I have found.
The previous threads/comments have all been helpful but what I couldn’t do was in any way reduce the length of that plunger. There appears to be a hard plastic captive retainer that moves slightly but doesn’t appear to thread/unthread. I thought if it did I could then adjust the length and thread it up again. Maybe I’m being too gentle.
Anyway after much huffing and puffing I gave up and went to the door handle outside. Obviously the same issue. Unlock door and handle is ineffective. But by chance I locked it, unlocked it then unlocked it again and the handle engaged. I performed a single unlock and it failed, unlocked it again and it worked. So not a fix but another question. Is it possible that these vans have a double locking setup ‍ or is it just that my van is reluctant at first but obliging on the second press.

 

[GrahamS]

 

[Howzat]

Is it possible that these vans have a double locking setup ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ or is it just that my van is reluctant at first but obliging on the second press.

Funny you mention that. Mine seems to have started doing this. Lock the van. Come back, unlock, get in drivers seat then get to destination then go to the back doors and it's locked. Other times it's unlocked first time when the front unlocked. I've started unlocking twice now as the norm but would rather know why it's started doing it?

 

[GrahamS]

I’ve just gone out and given it another go and it has not opened on a double unlock. Thing is you unlock, go to door, it doesn’t open and then I unlock again. It didn’t work so I tried again with a bit of pressure on handle and it opens. It’s a weird one, an obvious linkage fault but I can’t seem to make the adjustment that others suggest.

 

[Martinf]

I've been playing with mine door lock too because it is still reluctant to open from the outside after unlocking especially if one has 'tried' the external handle when locked.

Others have suggested shortening the plunger shown screwed upwards in the photo above. But how can this screw thread be shortened? Can anyone advise how it can be turned, preferably without dismantling everything?