Service VME - Right Hand Sliding Door (Long Wheel Base Only) Difficult to Open

When servicing the vehicle with the VIN you entered, the following diagnosis might be helpful if the vehicle exhibits the described symptoms.

This message addresses difficulty opening right side sliding door (both manual and power) on long wheel base Venture, Silhouette, and Montanas built between late March and late June 2002. A new design rear latch, which is closer to front handle than previous latch, went into production in late March 2002. (Plant containment was on June 24, 2002). This dimensional difference causes the lock rod to the rear latch to be approximately 4 mm too long. This in turn makes it difficult to open the sliding door. To remedy this condition, remove the sliding door inner panel trim. Pull the lock rod to the rear latch out of the popcorn clip at the front. With no tension on the rod, it should match up with the clip location. If it is forward of the clip, the rod is too long and needs to be replaced. Pending the new design part in GMSPO, parts may be obtained by calling TAC.

Please follow this diagnosis process thoroughly and complete each step. If the condition exhibited is resolved without completing every step, the remaining steps do not need to be performed. If these steps do not resolve the condition, please contact GM TAC for further diagnostic assistance. This diagnostic approach was developed for the vehicle with the VIN you entered and should not be automatically be used for other vehicles with similar symptoms.