Inner door handle and NCT

kavanada

Hi folks,

I have a 99 Passat. All doors lock/latch/open normally except for the inner door opening lever on the drivers side.

To open the drivers door from the inside, I need to lower the window and reach out to the outer handle and pull. It's a little annoying, sure, but I don't mind. It's 15 years old.

So, with the nct due shortly, I was wondering, is this a fail? I read the nct manual http://nct.ie/NCT%20Manual%20Revise%20May%202012.pdf and on page 31 where it covers DOORS, it mentions reasons for fail as:- Door cannot be shut or opened normally or is liable to open on its own.

Anyone with any similar experience or knowledge? I know it can be fixed ( I even felt and heard the cable unravelling as it happened) but as I said, it's 15 years old. I spend money on the mechanicals of the car, oil change, new plugs 2 months ago, brake checks.

Thanks for any insight into the wording of the nct document.

650Ginge

kavanada wrote: »

Hi folks,

I have a 99 Passat. All doors lock/latch/open normally except for the inner door opening lever on the drivers side.

To open the drivers door from the inside, I need to lower the window and reach out to the outer handle and pull. It's a little annoying, sure, but I don't mind. It's 15 years old.

So, with the nct due shortly, I was wondering, is this a fail? I read the nct manual http://nct.ie/NCT%20Manual%20Revise%20May%202012.pdf and on page 31 where it covers DOORS, it mentions reasons for fail as:- Door cannot be shut or opened normally or is liable to open on its own.

Anyone with any similar experience or knowledge? I know it can be fixed ( I even felt and heard the cable unravelling as it happened) but as I said, it's 15 years old. I spend money on the mechanicals of the car, oil change, new plugs 2 months ago, brake checks.

Thanks for any insight into the wording of the nct document.

It will fail.

It is a massive safety issue.

zapata

kavanada wrote: »

I spend money on the mechanicals of the car, oil change, new plugs 2 months ago, brake checks.

This is a mechanical issue - it will fail the NCT but will be a visual (so free retest).
Spend money or else DIY by getting the door card off to see what is going on inside.

kavanada

Ok. Thanks.

650, why do you say it's a massive safety issue? In the sense of a car crash and I can't get out?

Would this be a common issue, the cable unravelling? Would it be 1hrs labour?

Cheers.

650Ginge

kavanada wrote: »

Ok. Thanks.

650, why do you say it's a massive safety issue? In the sense of a car crash and I can't get out?

Would this be a common issue, the cable unravelling? Would it be 1hrs labour?

Cheers.

Fire would worry me more possibly electrical. Might stop electric windows working.

kavanada

Yeah, fair enough. But where do the permutations on safety end? Single vehicle crash, lonely dark road, car ends up on the passenger side, my seatbelt won't unlock, a spark, etc. You'd never leave the house.

I'll get it looked at, anyway.

biko

In short, all safety features must work (kinda). A broken handle will def fail as it impedes the working of the door.
Does handle feel like it is unhinged from the mechanism? If so you/mechanic can remove the inside door card and maybe just connect it back up again.

kavanada

Hi biko.

Yes, the spring on the handle itself works fine as every time I pull it, it returns to the flush position. However, there is just no resistance when I pull it.

When I felt it go, it felt like the cable was unravelling around a pulley. There was also a kind of 'metal bracket dropping into the bottom of the door' sound.

There's an electric window module on the door panel so I'd prefer to have a mechanic look at it. Knowing my luck I'll sever a wire to the regulator and fail the nct on that too.

Cheers.

Supergurrier

Would pass on a rear door (my old car did 3 times) but not on a front door and 100% not on the drivers door

kavanada

Hi all.

I got the cable fixed last night.

I got it done at Neary New Motors, Forrest Road, Swords. The mechanic was brilliant. I think it's only fair to mention it.

He said it really only needed a second-hand part (easy to source. 10mins. and I was happy with just a second-hand part) and began stripping & refitting the door panel there and then. This was at 5pm. It took him just an hour.

I'll be going back for a timing belt & w/p after the nct. The company is owned by the Subaru dealership in Lusk who have a very good rep and customer base in North County Dublin. They also own the Swords and Lusk Motor Factors.

Adam Monk was the guy I dealt with yesterday. I've no hesitations recommending him for parts/labour/help.

PM if you want further details.