MK2 Rabbit stuck rear door

[dl_sledding]

I have a rear door on my 1984 Rabbit that won't open.  I notice when comparing it to the other rear door that the interior handle acts like the "child safety" lever is in the "safe" mode, not allowing the interior handle to travel past about half throw.  The outside handle feels like the other door's handle, like it is actually moving something inside the door and not just pivoting back and forth.  The lock lever seems to travel up and down the same amount as the other doors and feels the same.

I have found the answer for this problem if I had a Jetta, but unfortunately for me I have a bunny, so the Jetta answer won't work.  The reason that it won't work is because the Rabbit has a metal lip on the inside of the car that prevents me from sending the tip of a screwdriver between the door and the jamb to depress the catch at the 6 o'clock position on the latching mechanism.

Does anyone have a good answer for a Rabbit?  I suppose I could try to bend the metal lip out of the way, but that seems kind of destructive...  Less destructive than cutting or prying the door open, so it may still happen, but before releasing the beast I thought I'd just run the flag up the flagpole and see who salutes...

TIA

Alex

[Rabbit on Roids]

mk2 rabbit? i didnt know there was such a thing?

i thought they made rabbits till 84, and im pretty sure all were mk1.

and then in 85 they started making the mk2, and discontinued the rabbit..

so, i wanna know where you found a 1984 mk2 rabbit?

[dl_sledding]

Thanks for the help.

So, roid, are you here to help or just flame people who are still learning?

I was incorrectly told that a MK1 rabbit has round headlights and an MK2 rabbit has square. Mine happens to have sqare.   Sorry for my total and complete stupidity.  Maybe I should just not bother asking questions here if posters like you are going to make me feel so welcome.

Suggestion: http://www.vwdiesel.net/forum/index.php?topic=18491.0. In particular, the bullet point that states: "If you have an opinion, state it as such.  If you’re not sure… don’t pretend that you are.  If you have nothing new to add to a thread, then consider not adding anything!"  AFAIK, this is pretty much a rule on any and all forums.  Your little nazi post above was absolutely no help at all to the question that I asked, and therefore falls into the "nothing new to add to a thread" column.

Don't know what I did to set you off, cuz you seem to answer other questions in these forums helpfully and respectfully...

Again, thanks so much.

[Vincent Waldon]

Your little nazi post

"Respect" gents... "respect"... that's the main forum guideline... and it applies in *all* directions.

We seem to be forgetting that over the internet it's very very easy to read into people's posts things that may or may not be there.

T'would be a better place around here if we all took a deep breath and kept the conversations directed towards the diesels, rather than individuals who drive 'em.

[rabbitman]

Yeah I think the headlights were round or square depending on where it was made.

Mk1 = 75-84 (rabbit,jetta and scirocco) I think cabriolet's stayed the mk1 body up to the end of the mk2 run and then they jumped straight to mk3, so no mk2 cabriolets.
Mk2 = 85-92ish (golf, jetta and scirocco) I may have missed a few.

No harm done.

You door issue sounds like the child safety lock is on and the outer door handle is broke (big surprise ).

Either bust the door handle off or bend that little metal tab you were talking about. I can't believe they used the same garbage door handle for so long, the whole mk1 and mk2 run.

Hope you can get it.

[theman53]

I am with rabbitman on this. If the door handle isn't working on the outside then it will probably need replaced anyway. Bust it off and push down on the little tab and the door will be freeeeee!

[burn_your_money]

You can open the door from inside by pushing the seat back and using a big screw driver. No risk of wrecking your door by breaking the handle.

[Rabbit on Roids]

Thanks for the help.

So, roid, are you here to help or just flame people who are still learning?

I was incorrectly told that a MK1 rabbit has round headlights and an MK2 rabbit has square. Mine happens to have sqare.   Sorry for my total and complete stupidity.  Maybe I should just not bother asking questions here if posters like you are going to make me feel so welcome.

Suggestion: http://www.vwdiesel.net/forum/index.php?topic=18491.0. In particular, the bullet point that states: "If you have an opinion, state it as such.  If you’re not sure… don’t pretend that you are.  If you have nothing new to add to a thread, then consider not adding anything!"  AFAIK, this is pretty much a rule on any and all forums.  Your little nazi post above was absolutely no help at all to the question that I asked, and therefore falls into the "nothing new to add to a thread" column.

Don't know what I did to set you off, cuz you seem to answer other questions in these forums helpfully and respectfully...

Again, thanks so much.

actually, my post was in no way to call you out. i was just wondering where you got a mk2 rabbit.. you dont need to get your panties in a wad. take a joke.. thats all it was.. i was in no way trying to flame you. if i were trying to be mean, i would have had a moderator screaming at me again..

either way, be all pissy cause i corrected you, or accept my apology..