Door locked shut on VW Jetta

Awwwwfook

Hi, I have a 06 Jetta and the passenger door won't open. About 4 weeks ago it happened but every couple of days it would work again but now it hasn't opened in 2 weeks... I can't open the window either. It was in for a service today and the mechanic said they cant fix it till they get the door open and the only way to do that is rip off the inside panel with will cost €250 to replace.

Any tips on how I can get the blasted thing to open?

Oh weirdly the hazard lights wont flash when i lock/unlock either since the door started acting up.

George Dalton

Where are you located? There is a bit of a knack to getting these open. It's easier to do than to explain how to do

Awwwwfook

George Dalton wrote: »

Where are you located? There is a bit of a knack to getting these open. It's easier to do than to explain how to do

Co Waterford. If u could try to explain ill try it.

Atlantic Dawn

Could it be the wiring loom cut on the door or the drivers door in an attempted break in?

George Dalton

Awwwwfook wrote: »

Co Waterford. If u could try to explain ill try it.

Ok well try this first of all.

Let down the window on the door that won't open.

Get somebody to operate the central locking button on the drivers door about once every second; lock-unlock-lock-unlock etc.

While they are doing that you try to open the door from the inside while with your other hand hit the area around where the lock barrel would be on the outside door handle.

This should get it open.

Once you get it open it will probably work ok a few times before it acts up again so get it booked in and get the lock replaced before it gets stuck shut again.

GavMan

George Dalton wrote: »

Ok well try this first of all.

Let down the window on the door that won't open.

Get somebody to operate the central locking button on the drivers door about once every second; lock-unlock-lock-unlock etc.

While they are doing that you try to open the door from the inside while with your other hand hit the area around where the lock barrel would be on the outside door handle.

This should get it open.

Once you get it open it will probably work ok a few times before it acts up again so get it booked in and get the lock replaced before it gets stuck shut again.

OP said they can't open the window...

tossy

They might be able to open the window by unlocking the car with the key in the drivers door and holding the key in the turned position so that the electric windows go down (this may also work with the unlock button on the key fob but it's not always the case)

Awwwwfook

George Dalton wrote: »

Ok well try this first of all.

Let down the window on the door that won't open.

Get somebody to operate the central locking button on the drivers door about once every second; lock-unlock-lock-unlock etc.

While they are doing that you try to open the door from the inside while with your other hand hit the area around where the lock barrel would be on the outside door handle.

This should get it open.

Once you get it open it will probably work ok a few times before it acts up again so get it booked in and get the lock replaced before it gets stuck shut again.

I will get himself to do that with me later

Awwwwfook

tossy wrote: »

They might be able to open the window by unlocking the car with the key in the drivers door and holding the key in the turned position so that the electric windows go down (this may also work with the unlock button on the key fob but it's not always the case)

Im almost afraid to try it in case it wont go up again.

brophs

Sorry for hijacking this thread, but I'm in the same boat.

My front passenger door is locked shut. I had intended on dropping it into a garage, but having already had one go I decided to learn how to do it myself. I bought a new lock online. Today I took off the door skin, installed it fine etc, and closed it over without the handle on etc, intending on finishing it later on. But when I went back to it and attempted to open the door it wouldn't open. So essentially the door is locked with the door skin held on by a couple of screws on either side.

The 'dead bolt' can't be open by either the cable to the handle inside the car or the cable to the outer handle. So basically I have no way to get the skin off now, other than to pull off the door card as suggested. Anyone got any long shots I can try before I end up having to shell out for a new door card (and a new lock, as I'm not sure I trust the seller now)?

brophs

brophs wrote: »

Sorry for hijacking this thread, but I'm in the same boat.

My front passenger door is locked shut. I had intended on dropping it into a garage, but having already had one go I decided to learn how to do it myself. I bought a new lock online. Today I took off the door skin, installed it fine etc, and closed it over without the handle on etc, intending on finishing it later on. But when I went back to it and attempted to open the door it wouldn't open. So essentially the door is locked with the door skin held on by a couple of screws on either side.

The 'dead bolt' can't be open by either the cable to the handle inside the car or the cable to the outer handle. So basically I have no way to get the skin off now, other than to pull off the door card as suggested. Anyone got any long shots I can try before I end up having to shell out for a new door card (and a new lock, as I'm not sure I trust the seller now)?

EDIT: Ignore this. I followed Georges's method and eventually, after quite a while, it opened. Delighted with that.

Awwwwfook

nothing worked for me, ffs, will have to sourse a second hand door card and rip the other one off

brophs

brophs wrote: »

EDIT: Ignore this. I followed Georges's method and eventually, after quite a while, it opened. Delighted with that.

Follow up. Having a bit of an odd issue this evening. I replaced the passenger door lock module a few months back. All seemed to be fine but this evening the passenger door wouldn't open. I noticed a difference from the last time, in that there was a small bit of slack (4 or 5mm) on the handle and when I pulled the handle (either inside or out) it did nothing. Opening and closing the central locking did nothing either.

But weirdly, it seems like the 'cause' of the handle going slack is the electric window being opened. After opening the window the handle feels slack. Then when I'm outside and close the electric window using the central locking button there is a small sound as the window's about 1/4 of the way down, the door handle is visibly 'pulled' back in to its normal position and the door can then be opened.

So I'm guessing it's either a physical issue, with something moving or fouling, or, less likely, an electrical issue. I won't have a chance to go near it for a week or more unfortunately.

Thoughts anyone?

brophs

brophs wrote: »

Follow up. Having a bit of an odd issue this evening. I replaced the passenger door lock module a few months back. All seemed to be fine but this evening the passenger door wouldn't open. I noticed a difference from the last time, in that there was a small bit of slack (4 or 5mm) on the handle and when I pulled the handle (either inside or out) it did nothing. Opening and closing the central locking did nothing either.

But weirdly, it seems like the 'cause' of the handle going slack is the electric window being opened. After opening the window the handle feels slack. Then when I'm outside and close the electric window using the central locking button there is a small sound as the window's about 1/4 of the way down, the door handle is visibly 'pulled' back in to its normal position and the door can then be opened.

So I'm guessing it's either a physical issue, with something moving or fouling, or, less likely, an electrical issue. I won't have a chance to go near it for a week or more unfortunately.

Thoughts anyone?

Short video of the handle popping back in as the window is lowered, as I probably haven't explained it very well.
View My Video