Sliding door internal handle does not open the door. Is this ‘normal’

[Guy]

Whilst working on the van (23 crafter) I realised the sliding door internal door handle doesn’t open/unlock the door, is this normal, I assume not but there is nothing at all, no clicking, just nothing . It appears this is how it came out the factory. We are the second owners of the van, the first being the local VW dealership but I can’t see a reason to disable the internal handle. If anyone has any insight or suggestions please let me know.

Thanks

 

[Lebowski]

Do you have a child lock activated?

 

[Guy]

Do you have a child lock activated?

Not as far as I know and also being a commercial vehicle I doubt it as this is in the cargo area, the back door handle opens from the inside. Thanks for the thought/comment though. I need to take a look inside the door skin and see if something is disconnected I think.

 

[Lebowski]

Well, the reason I asked is as it's a mandatory inclusion from the factory: when you order the vehicle without separator wall a child lock is fitted.

 

[airhoguk]

Hopefully this will help

Owners Manuals Content | VW Vans

www.volkswagen-vans.co.uk

Search sliding door lock, there is a child lock fitted

 

[Guy]

Thanks @airhoguk ….. the answer was in the manual. It seems the prior owner has butchered the child lock switch as there is simply a gapping hole, where the switch should be. I shall have to see if I can flick the switch in daylight as I only need to do this once.

Thank you

 

[airhoguk]

Glad to help @Guy shame the previous owner butchered it

 

[Guy]

Incase anyone has this problem in the future……. It turned out that when the previous owner had installed an anti drill latch shield/security shield on the side door they had disconnected the cable from its seating so when the handle was pulled on the inside it had nothing to ‘lever’ against hence the door lock wouldn’t open