The Vanagon lock code is most easily found on the front door handles.  On
the end of the lock is a fork-shaped casting, the tailpiece.  On one of
these forks will be found a 4 digit number.  This is the numerical portion
of the code.  It is generally necessary to clean the tailpiece with steel
wool or a scotchbrite pad to see the numbers.  I use a fine wire wheel in a
Dremel tool to clean them up.
Steve Sandlin, Locksmith
'84 Wolfsburg Westy
'79 Transporter
'00 New Beetle