Audi A4 B8 Avant rear door won't open

neddynasty

Hi All,

Have a 2009 Audi A4 B8 Avant 2.0 TDI and the rear passenger door won't open from the outside sometimes. I say sometimes but it's nearly all the time now and has gotten worse. You have to reach in and pull the interior handle and then it can be opened using the exterior handle.

1. Has anyone experienced this?

I've googled it and there's a few post on various VW/Audi forums that suggest it's an actuator or solenoid.
2. Can these be fixed or do you need to buy a whole new locking unit?
3. Is it something I can repair myself?
4. Any part numbers for what needs to be replaced?

Thanks

nogoodnamesleft

It's a common problem in that era. It happened mine a few months ago and I ended up changing the part out myself.

I'm based in the UK nowadays so I got the replacement part for £55 from Gsf the dealer price here is about £130 for the door lock module. I also bought 2-3 upholstery clips as a few will inadvertently break taking the door card off.

Took about 2 hours on my Passat. With the patent part the door "clunk" is slightly different. Then again it's probably me being pedantic ðŸ˜.

DWG

Hi there Neddy,

Just something you should try before replacing any parts. If you look at "nogoodnamesleft" post the last picture shows a small cable that links to the door handle. If this cable it clipped into the handle too tight the door wont open from the outside. It took me three attempts and two different locks to discover this. The automatic thing to do would be to pull this cable tight and clip it onto the door handle but if you do it wont open the door, especially from the outside.

Let us know how you get on.
Best of luck.
DWG

neddynasty

Thanks for the replies and a few good photos there too. Now just to find some time to have a go at this myself.

neddynasty

Lads, haven't had a chance to get the door fixed yet. I booked the NCT for the 16th March and didn't really think about the door issue. I've just lived with it so far but now the NCT is booked is it a failure if the door doesn't open from the outside?

biko

Yes

ION08

Sorry to drag up an old thread but I'm experiencing exactly the same issue described but unfortunately also with the Drivers door

How did you get sorted in the end?

NeoSD5

ION08 wrote: »

Sorry to drag up an old thread but I'm experiencing exactly the same issue described but unfortunately also with the Drivers door

How did you get sorted in the end?

If only the rear doors are experiencing issues, then this is an easy enough fix – simply open the back door and you’ll see that right there on the edge is a little black plastic keyhole with an image of a child on it. Simply turn it the opposite way it’s currently positioned, close the door, and test it out.

pa990

I had a similar problem with a Mk iv Golf many moons ago.
The cable wasnt catching the handle properly.

My advice is, to get it fixed sooner rather than later, because when it does eventually completely fail.. and it will. It is a complete PITA to fix when you cant open the door at all.
You'll end up trying to take off the interior panels of the door while sitting in the back seat, trying to access almost inaccessible screws.

ION08

NeoSD5 wrote: »

If only the rear doors are experiencing issues, then this is an easy enough fix – simply open the back door and you’ll see that right there on the edge is a little black plastic keyhole with an image of a child on it. Simply turn it the opposite way it’s currently positioned, close the door, and test it out.

Thanks a lot for your suggestion but its definitely not the child lock as the doors open from the inside but not from the outside (exactly the opposite of what a child lock should do!! :P )

ION08

rang Audi today and its €151 for a new Door Lock actuator

NeoSD5

ION08 wrote: »

Thanks a lot for your suggestion but its definitely not the child lock as the doors open from the inside but not from the outside (exactly the opposite of what a child lock should do!! :P )

It might be that you've got 'single click driver door' set in the MMI. Go into the settings and check that you've got the remote set to unlock all 4 doors and not just the driver door.

neddynasty

I never got around to fixing this. Still opening from the inside. I really need to though. No.2 on the way in a few weeks and 2 fully functioning doors is a must.

ION08

neddynasty wrote: »

I never got around to fixing this. Still opening from the inside. I really need to though. No.2 on the way in a few weeks and 2 fully functioning doors is a must.

Count yourself lucky, It was the rear door acting up for me too (which I could live with) but now that door seems to have magically freed up and the front two doors aren't opening up.

Also; congrats

George Dalton

It's a very common issue with the B8 A4. New door lock needed.

ION08

George Dalton wrote: »

It's a very common issue with the B8 A4. New door lock needed.

Thanks george, thought as much.

Id be looking at 3 locks in that case as there is only 1 door that hasnt given me trouble.

Is it a big job and have you done many yourself?

George Dalton

Yes we've done loads, they are pretty easy to do.

ION08

George Dalton wrote: »

Yes we've done loads, they are pretty easy to do.

How much would you charge for 3 locks?

George Dalton

They are €200 each fitted (genuine Audi lock no cheap Chinese crap)

ION08

George Dalton wrote: »

They are €200 each fitted (genuine Audi lock no cheap Chinese crap)

The Genuine Audi locks don't seem to be of much better quality than "cheap Chinese crap" to be honest. :rolleyes:

Thanks George appreciate your input. If i was anywhere close to your garage you'd be my go to guy!

George Dalton

You wouldn't get 8 years out of a cheap ebay lock

neddynasty

The bumping of this thread has reinvigorated my desire to get my 2 back doors fixed. Rang my local mechanic and they're going to order the parts and fit them probably next week. It'll be approx €410 for the 2 fitted. He offered 2nd hand parts but I don't want to take the chance.

ION08

neddynasty wrote: »

The bumping of this thread has reinvigorated my desire to get my 2 back doors fixed. Rang my local mechanic and they're going to order the parts and fit them probably next week. It'll be approx €410 for the 2 fitted. He offered 2nd hand parts but I don't want to take the chance.

George Dalton wrote: »

You wouldn't get 8 years out of a cheap ebay lock

Fair play, Im glad I was able to revive your desire at getting this apparently common issue fixed.

Although George I gotta maintain that sometimes VAG parts are honestly on a par with cheap chinese rubbish.

I would expect for door locks to never give any issues , like with most other cars that don't, let alone a 'premium' brand such as Audi that prides itself on "German engineering"

That fact that this is such a common issue again just highlights some of the cheaply engineered parts that VAG use in their cars which is disappointing.

neddynasty

Car was in my local indie mechanic yesterday to get the 2 rear door locks replaced. 2 new genuine Audi locks put in for €375 inc VAT. Only took about an hour and a half which was good. It's only taken a yeah and a half to sort out but finally the 2 rear doors open as they should. They sound better too when closing.

ION08

neddynasty wrote: »

Car was in my local indie mechanic yesterday to get the 2 rear door locks replaced. 2 new genuine Audi locks put in for €375 inc VAT. Only took about an hour and a half which was good. It's only taken a yeah and a half to sort out but finally the 2 rear doors open as they should. They sound better too when closing.

Got my 2 front doors done by George last weekend (€400 for both front doors)

About the sound when they close, I noticed that too but I thought it was me just imagining things!

....Fingers crossed that the rear doors don't start acting up any time soon

Rookiechris

My Audi A4 2009 Avant, Problem with Rear Passenger door. For a few weeks, When you unlocked the car that door wouldn't open from the outside, When you reached over and opened it from the inside the door would open, and then would continuously open from the outside until the car was locked again. Same would happen over again. Then it decided that it wouldn't open from the inside nor the outside. Door was permanently closed. (NCT coming up so had to get it sorted) I forced off the door card on the inside, broken chips but what the hell, screws hold the card on anyhow. Tried everything to get the door open, even to find out what type of lock it was, because apparently there are several different types of models of locks. Eventually after about two hours of poking around and I had to give up. I phone an Audi garage looking to get talking to a technician and they advised, get a person on the inside, a person on the outside and another pressing the key fob "open and closed" done this about 15 times and hey presto the door eventually opened. Looks like some trends had it that that door lock was out of sync. I don't know how true that is but my door is opening and closing now.

ION08

Rookiechris wrote: »

My Audi A4 2009 Avant, Problem with Rear Passenger door. For a few weeks, When you unlocked the car that door wouldn't open from the outside, When you reached over and opened it from the inside the door would open, and then would continuously open from the outside until the car was locked again. Same would happen over again. Then it decided that it wouldn't open from the inside nor the outside. Door was permanently closed. (NCT coming up so had to get it sorted) I forced off the door card on the inside, broken chips but what the hell, screws hold the card on anyhow. Tried everything to get the door open, even to find out what type of lock it was, because apparently there are several different types of models of locks. Eventually after about two hours of poking around and I had to give up. I phone an Audi garage looking to get talking to a technician and they advised, get a person on the inside, a person on the outside and another pressing the key fob "open and closed" done this about 15 times and hey presto the door eventually opened. Looks like some trends had it that that door lock was out of sync. I don't know how true that is but my door is opening and closing now.

I'd still get the lock replaced.

Mine was working / not working intermittently , was always able to unlock it from the inside though.

TripleSSS

Rookiechris wrote: »

My Audi A4 2009 Avant, Problem with Rear Passenger door. For a few weeks, When you unlocked the car that door wouldn't open from the outside, When you reached over and opened it from the inside the door would open, and then would continuously open from the outside until the car was locked again. Same would happen over again. Then it decided that it wouldn't open from the inside nor the outside. Door was permanently closed. (NCT coming up so had to get it sorted) I forced off the door card on the inside, broken chips but what the hell, screws hold the card on anyhow. Tried everything to get the door open, even to find out what type of lock it was, because apparently there are several different types of models of locks. Eventually after about two hours of poking around and I had to give up. I phone an Audi garage looking to get talking to a technician and they advised, get a person on the inside, a person on the outside and another pressing the key fob "open and closed" done this about 15 times and hey presto the door eventually opened. Looks like some trends had it that that door lock was out of sync. I don't know how true that is but my door is opening and closing now.

ION08 wrote: »

I'd still get the lock replaced.

Mine was working / not working intermittently , was always able to unlock it from the inside though.

Exact same is happening to my 09 A4.

Do you guys know the part number for the locks? Is it the door lock actuator that you have to replace? Going to try and source it myself.

ION08

sweeney2014 wrote: »

Exact same is happening to my 09 A4.

Do you guys know the part number for the locks? Is it the door lock actuator that you have to replace? Going to try and source it myself.

Not sure of the Part number. If you PM GeorgeDalton on here he might be able to give it to you.

PokeHerKing

Sorry to drag up an old thread. Just looking for opinions. I need all four locks replaced on my 09 A4 B8.

Unfortunately front passenger door won't open at all now, which has increased labour costs.

Been quoted 790e for Audi parts and 320e for labour.

I've rang my audi dealer and the parts is spot on, labour doesn't seem too bad either. 60e a door bar the one that's stuck which is 140e as unsure how long will take.

But some of the quotes on here are considerably cheaper. Is the 4 year inflation about right or should I shop around?