vlookup in VB returns 2029 error

hi all,
I have a very simple vlookup statement:

cells(x,1).value = [vlookup(cells(x,2).value),$W$2:$X$75,2,false)]

and I'm get "#VALUE!" for all values of x

When I run the statement in Immediate mode:

?[vlookup(cells(x,2).value,$W$2:$X$75,2,false)]

I get Error 2015

When I use an actual value for cells(x,2).value ( "Inactive" )

?[vlookup("Inactive",$W$2:$X$75,2,false)]

I get the correct result, Oahu

When I create a variable "V" and assign is the value "Inactive"

?[vlookup(V,$W$2:$X$75,2,false)]

I get Error 2029

When I put a formula into all the cells in row2:

=VLOOKUP(B24059,W2:X75,2,FALSE)

I get the correct value being returned.

What is going on here?

vlookup isn't rocket science, but my vb is not getting off the ground....

Any help would be appreciated