Passat rear door problem

kincaid

hi all,

2001 passat tdi, only 3 doors will open and close on the remote and the switch on the drivers door but cant get the drivers side rear door to open at all as the little plastic pull knob on the door will not work(come up) at all and cant get the door to open...
when i pull the inside door handle the plastic knob will also pop up but as soon as i let the handle back it goes down again and door wont open from the outside.

anyone able to advise please

Chimaera

Sounds like the usual problem of cracked solder joints in the locking module. You'll need to open it up and resolder the joints or buy a new lock. If it won't stay open mechanically, unhook the electrical connector in the door jamb so the electronics won't automatically relock it.

kincaid

hi, i can not get the door to open at all,
the inside or outside handle will not open it either

Chimaera

When the plastic knob pops back down is it the central locking system that's pulling it back in? In other words do you hear the motor firing? Have you had anyone run diagnostics on it?

The external and internal handles connect to different parts of the mechanism, and the internal one is used to pop up the button when unlocking mechanically. If neither handle will unlock the door, I reckon the deadlocking mechanism is engaged. This actually takes the form of a little plastic peg which is disengaged from the lock mechanism to prevent the handle mechanism engaging with the lock mechanism. It is controlled completely by the electronics.

When you hit the button, can you hear the motor fire inside in the lock at all?

FWIW I've some pics here of one of these locks in various states of dismantling from the last time I had trouble. It might give you an idea of how the lock is laid out and where your problem might be.

kincaid

yes think i can hear the motor, will i have to take the inside panel of the the door to get in at it and looks very awkward to do

George Dalton

Yes you will have to remove the door panel and you will have to wreck the existing door lock to get the door open. It might be best to get it done by someone who has done them before to minimise the chances of damaging anything.

kincaid

hi, is it difficult to get the inner door panel off, have i to remove the seat

Chimaera

It might get you a bit more room to get the panel off alright.

There are two screws at the bottom of the panel, and you'll need to unclip the lamp as well. Two more screws in the handle, underneath the trim.