Help Please - How To Lock Passat Without Setting Alarm

[Lurker777]

We have a 2013 Passat estate. Last night the alarm kept activating, and after a bit of investigating we noticed the 'boot open' indicator on the display panel. The boot wasn't actually open, so we suspect a faulty sensor.

As it was the middle of the night, and the alarm kept being triggered at random intervals, we decided to lock the car without setting the alarm. You'd think this would be easy, but there is no obvious way to achieve this simple requirement. We therefore were forced to leave the car unlocked overnight.

There's a couple of different ways to lock the car with the internal/motion sensor being deactivated - but this still leaves the 'door open' sensors activated.

I've spoken to VW this morning, and they've informed me it is not possible to lock the car and fully deactivate the alarm. Surely this can't be true.

Any suggestions?

Cheers, Andy

[Phunk]

Normally pressing the lock button twice when you lock it

[Lurker777]

Nope....tried that. It deactivates the motion/internal sensor, but not the 'door open' sensor.

[cuprabob]

I was under the impression if one of zones wasn't closed (boot open) then the hazard lights don't flash on lock to make you aware something is not closed but that zone was excluded when the alarm was armed.

Open the boot, lock the car and close the boot. If the sensor is faulty then the hazards won't flash.

[Lurker777]

Thanks. The thing is that initially, everything appears ok...the car image on the computer display indicates all doors are closed, all the doors actually lock, and the hazards flash as expected. Later on (anything from a few minutes to a couple of hours), the alarm sounds and the computer display indicates the boot is open.

This suggests to me there's either a problem with the boot sensor (reporting the boot is open when it isn't) or with the boot catch (opening itself). Unfortunately, I'm unable to get this investigated until tomorrow. In the meantime, I have a period of 24 hours during which I can't lock the car.

[jimmer96]

Hi, I just spotted your post. I have exactly the same problem just begun on a 2013 passat. Did you work out how to lock without the alarm and how was it sorted in the end ? Cheers.

[randomeddy]

Our older model has the plastic manual key, do the newer models have it.

[Cornishtaxi]

Please help! I have a 2013 VW Passat estate and the alarm keeps going off! I have changed the tailgate lock/sensor, changed the key fob batteries, tested the car battery and that’s fine! No idea what to do as it’s driving me mad!

Anyone have any idea?

[Pjmcdonalduk]

I have the exact same issue Cornish Taxi. Did you get it sorted? I have just had a new boot lock fitted and the problem still exists. I don't have a damp passenger well. Anyone got any more ideas?

[KeithBinfield]

Help. I have exact same problem on 2014 Passat estate, it's driving me (and neighbours) nuts. Tailgate locked firmly but randomly it alerts that it is open on the dash display - sometimes it flicks from locked to open every 2-3 seconds for an hour before settling for a while. Then in the middle of the night or day the alarm goes off. I tried locking with the tailgate open then closing it to see if that deactivates sensor but no difference. Three weeks ago I replaced the whole tailgate lock/sensor mechanism and that kept it quiet until 2 days ago, now it's back to as bad as before. I have to leave it unlocked at night

Is there a fuse that disable the bloody alarm?

Any help appreciated

[malcyflint]

Hi I have a 2014 passat estate with all the same traits as above, I removed the tailgate lock....(was an extreme pain to do) and tested across the pins. one set there was 4 ohms and the other a full short cct. I assume the 4ohms was the solenoid to open the boot catch and the short cct pins when I shut the lock by hand went open cct. this to me is a working catch.....so I now presume that the intermittent lighting up on the dash board of the tail gate open must be a short circuit.. the loom runs past the offside of the car and possibly into the rear offside door...sometimes when I flick the rear off side door handle the tail gate light flickers....not all the time but it looks mighty suspect.....still perusing the issue and will update if I fine a positive fix.

[davision]

Hello Everyone!

Another one here with the same issue. I have VW Passat estate year 2014, and just a week ago alarm started going off all by itself when I locked the car. I've replaced the whole lock in the tailgate (as the service guys recommended me to) with the new one, but the issue still remains. malcyflint, have you found any solution for your case? Or anyone has a clue, what could be the problem? The only solution right now is to disconnect the lock, when the tailgate is closed. But then I cannot open it, since it's a power gate. Extremely annoying though. Thanks to anyone for your advice.

[henrycrun]

Can you lock using just the key in the door (not the remote) ?

[davision]

I can, but it locks the car the same way as the remote - with alarm aim. It's weird. So there's no way for me lock the car without setting the alarm as well.

[Calmuman]

Try this one: open the boot, lock the car and close the boot.

[bigjobbo]

Do lights, wiper and washer work? Is the washer weak? Obvious weak point on these is inside the rubber conduit at the hinge, also washer pipe can split and leak in this location too. Latch the lock over and wiggle the rubber while watching the dash for gate open, or just carefully remove the grommet and check inside for moisture, breaks and corrosion etc. Locks on these usually break inside (grinding noise) and the gate won’t open. Contact switch return signal can easily be checked with a multimeter.

[davision]

Thanks everyone for the hints! I've checked the tailgate electronics once again and try just to unplug the rear wiper mechanism. Before also checked the wiring that goes to the door, and there were no leaks. The interesting thing is, that alarm suddenly fixed itself. Till today it does not going off anymore! So I'm guessing there were just some eroded contacts somewhere. I've sprayed some WD40 into each one of them as well. So it is fixed for now!