What is that hole for?

Our 1996 Transit based Duetto has a hole which looks factory made, in the internal door card of the rear door between the internal door handle and the lock. Is this just an inspection hole or does it serve a purpose as I am thinking of covering it with something to hold my guitar whilst moving

I am following this thread with great interest because yesterday I took the rear door card off our 1996 Duetto to check out waxoyl situation and I noticed the very same hole as you, and like you I also wondered what it was for.
Brad

Would it be to facilitate replacing/fitting the lock assembly?

PB

I'm trying to remember back several years. I remember the hole and it does serve a purpose - is it to lock the back door from inside by clicking a small lever?

Peter

If the lock assembly needed to be replaced the door card would need to be removed as the hole is only about 1.5 inches in diameter

I couldn't feel a lever inside when I had a fumble, but then again I wasn't actually looking for one. I have always utilised the central locking system for locking when inside

Keep the ideas coming

My Transit-based Flair has a hole in the rear tailgate covering - if you feel inside there is a lever at the left hand edge (invisible if you look straight at it). If you press it to the left it releases the lock.

I would guess on a twin door setup a similar arrangement would be included to permit the lock to be set/released from the inside.

I will have a fiddle tomorrow

Thanks for the suggestions

Ah-Ha, I have found the little release lever in the hole. However, why would you need it when the normal door opening lever is just to the left of the hole? Now I will spend time worrying about which lever to use. Will it be the obvious lever, or the little secret lever that very few people know about. I suppose I could go out of the side door. Oh dear, all these complicated decisions.

Brad

Blossom wrote:Ah-Ha, I have found the little release lever in the hole. However, why would you need it when the normal door opening lever is just to the left of the hole? Now I will spend time worrying about which lever to use. Will it be the obvious lever, or the little secret lever that very few people know about. I suppose I could go out of the side door. Oh dear, all these complicated decisions.

Brad

Brad,

It's not just for opening.

On models without central locking and when used as a delivery van the driver often went into the back of the van and then exited via the side-door or stepped through into the driver's seat.

The little lever allowed him to lock the rear doors from the inside without the bother of walking round to the back with the key.

Superb when it was raining cats and dogs and also pretty useful when it's converted to a motorhome.

Best regards,

Ian

Ian,

thanks for that as I was just about to ask the question about locking, it is mean baffling me for ages

Thanks Ian, I can sleep more easily knowing that.
Brad

I had a fiddle this afternoon and could not find said lever just the rods connecting internal and external handles to the lock. Perhaps vans like ours with central locking don't have the lever but the door card is a universal fitment

Any hoo's I will be covering said hole with a bracket to hold my guitar as I can not find anywhere else suitably out of the way to safely store it whilst on the move

Thanks for all the input

Ian

Tommy-Darcy wrote:I had a fiddle this afternoon and could not find said lever just the rods connecting internal and external handles to the lock. Perhaps vans like ours with central locking don't have the lever but the door card is a universal fitment

Any hoo's I will be covering said hole with a bracket to hold my guitar as I can not find anywhere else suitably out of the way to safely store it whilst on the move

Thanks for all the input

Ian

Ian,

I think the clue is in the term "Central Locking"!

Best regards,

Ian

Dutto wrote:

Tommy-Darcy wrote:I had a fiddle this afternoon and could not find said lever just the rods connecting internal and external handles to the lock. Perhaps vans like ours with central locking don't have the lever but the door card is a universal fitment

Any hoo's I will be covering said hole with a bracket to hold my guitar as I can not find anywhere else suitably out of the way to safely store it whilst on the move

Thanks for all the input

Ian

Ian,

I think the clue is in the term "Central Locking"!

Best regards,

Ian

Ian, (Dutto)

One day I too may be this wise

Ian,

We are all gifted with 20/20 hindsight!!



As for any "wisdom" this is the man that went into a refinery stores and asked for a "One inch to two inch increaser." because I wanted to connect a one inch line to a two inch line. (It seemed logical to me at the time!)

The store-man shook his head and denied having any. "I got one out of stores yesterday." I protested "You must have one."

"Nope." he said shaking his head "Sorry." Then as I trudged out of the door wondering how I was ever going to complete the job he shouted "I've got about a thousand two inch to one inch reducers if one of them would do the trick."

The had a smile a mile wide on his face!

Best regards,

Ian

Hi
That hole realy got on my nerves when I had the Duetto, the local engineering supplies had the answer, a grey plastic pipe sealer finisher, it was the perfect colour, one side needs to be shamfered as one side of the hole slopes across, anyway it fitted a treat and looked like the factory should have done it, somewhere out there someone with a 96 Duetto (my old one) will be wondering what hole your talking about.

Actually I have an end from a commercial toilet roll in it to stop the draft. A perfect fit and in a kind of semi clear plastic finish makes it less obvious than the hole