Help!!!

I am brand new to this forum and have only had my 1995 GL for about 5 days now! I have run into a problem with the driver's door. It shuts but then doesn't doesn't latch. I have tried locking and unlocking and other varying things (getting frusterated and slamming it) and my roomate has a 1997 GLX that has a special thing so you don't lock your keys in the car... well its not that! It feels a bit like the door handle and the inside door handle are not attatched to the actual latch which attatches to the bar on the b pillar. Anyhow, I have the door panel off now and cannot figure it out... but I live on a busy street and do not want my car to be able to be opened at will. High crime area. Anyhow, the soonest that I can get some advice the better! I REALLY appreciate the help and I am looking forward to being an active forum member. Are these door latches electronic? Anyhow, any help would be great! Thanks again!
JON

So the problem is that the door is shutting but not locking to the latch inside the car?Well if this is the case your lock on the door is probably sticking in the unlocked position-you could try spraying some wd-40 at the lock,try and move the lock manually by using a srewdriver at the latch,you should be able to move it into 3 different positions.(unlock by moving interior door handle)

The common problem on old vw's is the doorbarrel locking tab breaking off-to see if this is the fault,unscrew the screw that holds the handle above the lock and put the key in the barrel and turn the key while moving the handle and the handle should pop out,be aware that this is tricky and a little hard to refit(hence you wouldn't wan't to do this on your street if you couldn't get the handle back on)and you should only do this if the problem is that the door barrell is spinning and not locking/unlocking-which from the sounds of it is not your problem.

I appreciate your response! What the problem is... maybe I can explain a little bit better.... the swivel latch on the door itself which locks when attatched to the b pillar (rotating U shaped thing)... that swivel latch doesn't stick or lock at all. Does that make sense? When you look at all the other doors or open them and play with the swivel latch they actually stay if you push them down like the door was closed. The driver's door is just loose. Do you still think that maybe its the broken piece or maybe just maybe something simple? Thanks again for your help! Any advice is greatly appreciated.
Jon

OK i think i understand the latch on the LOCK is not locking and the locking part of the lock is loose?
Can you lock the door by pressing down on the button while the door is shut?Or does the door keep opening and not locking?

Yeah, it keeps opening and not locking. It doesn't matter if you lock the car from the outside, inside or anything. The door still doesn't stay latched. That swiveling U wont stay and grab onto the little bar type thing on the b pillar. (I hope that makes sense). I am at a loss here and I am hesitant to call the dealership because it is just SO expensive. Have any ideas? Thanks again!
Jon

Ok, i think i understand your terminology. My MKIII had a prob with staying in the locked pos. and when i went to shut it, it would just bounce off the frame. So i put the key in the door and started locking and unlocking the door while simultaneously pushing the lever with a screwdriver. It worked. Try that, hope it helps.

It's a fairly common problem. Sometimes you can get lucky & it's only the pawl that holds the latch arm in place sticking. Try lubricating before replacing. I have taken them apart & repaired before, but it is a very difficult job, they're made to be replaced.

Hey, I want to say thanks for your help... I am going to try to fiddle with it more tomorrow morning before work. My only question still is, what exactly should I lube? Things seem loose and not like they are sticking. Any other ideas I would love to hear. Worst case scenario I can take it to the dealership where I work and have them take a look. Its toyota I work for but I know some of the techs know VW. Thanks again though!

On latch mechanism the side opposite of the U-shaped latch that goes around the striker pin there is a hidden lock pawl that locks it in the closed position. It is either stuck or broken.