Can't open door

Author
Discussion

newuserhere

Original Poster:

40 posts

94 months

Tuesday 18th October 2016
quotequote all
It's a 2000 Passat 1.9

Door card is off and I have access to lock.

Won't open from inside or outside.

Tried the trick of pulling handle from inside and outside at same time no luck.

If I use the cable to pull on the mechanism it still won't open.

Handle etc all feel normal.

Any tips?

annodomini2

6,860 posts

250 months

Wednesday 19th October 2016
quotequote all
There's a metal fitting on the top of the lock that's rotated by the motor (for lock/unlock). (Nearly impossible to access)

You need to put 12v in the right polarity across the motor (pins 1 and 2 I believe, but please check) to unlock the door.

If the motor is dead you have to smash the lock to release the lock, so the handle cable can release it.

Petrolhead_Rich

4,659 posts

191 months

Wednesday 19th October 2016
quotequote all
common issue on VW's, I spent about 4 hours trying to get the OH's golf door open to replace the passenger door catch mechanism as it was intermittently sticking.

A lot of perseverance, a bit of gentle bashing with the back of your hand and lots of lock/unlock/pull handle and it will open.

Once open, replace catch thumbup

DanSkoda

154 posts

93 months

Wednesday 19th October 2016
quotequote all
Sounds like it's locked itself in SAFE mode. Before breaking the hammer and chisel out to replace the lock motor, it can be worth getting the door and interior hot as it's usually a solder joint that's cracked causing the issues.
Cabin heater to full whack and gentle use of a hot air gun or hairdryer around the lock area on the exterior til the panel is toasty then doing the old unlock via fob, bang the door and pull the cable jig (another pair of hands can be beneficial to this) can often be the quickest way of gaining access.

newuserhere

Original Poster:

40 posts

94 months

Sunday 23rd October 2016
quotequote all
Tried gently bashing it and used a heat gun. Getting nothing.
Put new batteries in key fob hoping central locking would unlock it, but central locking doesn't work all round anyway.

So what's the next stage... destructive I presume?
I don't care about damaging the Mechanism, just want the damn door open to fit new lock. And don't want to damage the door in the process

annodomini2

6,860 posts

250 months

Sunday 23rd October 2016
quotequote all
newuserhere said:
Tried gently bashing it and used a heat gun. Getting nothing.
Put new batteries in key fob hoping central locking would unlock it, but central locking doesn't work all round anyway.

So what's the next stage... destructive I presume?
I don't care about damaging the Mechanism, just want the damn door open to fit new lock. And don't want to damage the door in the process
Put power across the pins near the flat edge of the connector, try one polarity and see if it unlocks, there's no complex electronics inside the lock unit, the controller is in the window winder.

newuserhere

Original Poster:

40 posts

94 months

Monday 24th October 2016
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I've got a power probe and tried sending 12v having unplugged electrical connection

brrapp

3,701 posts

161 months

Monday 24th October 2016
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My wife's old golf used to do this regularly from the outside but we could open it from the inside normally. The solution was to open the door from the inside and then slam the door shut as hard and fast as physically possible, don't hold back, imagine you're slamming it onto Nicola Sturgeon's head. It always worked .

newuserhere

Original Poster:

40 posts

94 months

Monday 24th October 2016
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Thanks mate

But door won't open from inside or out despite many efforts

Blaster72

10,772 posts

196 months

Monday 24th October 2016
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Is it a rear door?

newuserhere

Original Poster:

40 posts

94 months

Monday 24th October 2016
quotequote all
Rear nearside

Blaster72

10,772 posts

196 months

Monday 24th October 2016
quotequote all
Here's one solution, it's a pretty common fault on the Passat and A4.

https://www.dropbox.com/s/ojji3h1hfmcuwik/2003%20P...

Let me know if you can't download the file and i'll send you a copy.

This method works and if you're careful a bit of touch up paint and a couple of panel grommets and you'd never notice the holes afterwards.

Other than that, I'd keep trying whacking the motor area with a rubber mallet while operating the lock from the remote with someone else trying the handle. Also the heat idea is good but you'll need a hot air gun directly on the lock or a hairdryer.