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Thread: Driver's door won't open

  1. #1
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    Driver's door won't open

    Hi and apologies if I missed a relevant thread but can't find the answer to this anywhere.

    My Mk3 five door GL TDI driver's door will not open either from outside or inside.

    The key works the lock in manual mode, the button goes up and down, but that's all. Passenger door lock needs a new key cylinder, (which I have a kit for but not fitted), so ATM the only way in is open the boot, pull up passenger side button, open pass. door and slide across. One of the few times I've been glad its an auto.

    I can lock the car manually, using the key to lock the boot last. Ive looked through lots of you tube videos but none seem right for the car. Tried poking a bent wire in the handle as per one video but couldn't find anything to hook onto release it.

    With the door in closed mode, I can't get into it at all, so I figure VW must have a release mechanism somewhere, they think of everything, right?

    Needless to say, any advice would be a major improvement.
    MY09 Golf Candy White 2.0 TDI Pacific
    MY95 Golf III TDI

  2. #2
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    So far all I have is this... a bit drastic.
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x-Z4GbzBqrE
    MY09 Golf Candy White 2.0 TDI Pacific
    MY95 Golf III TDI

  3. #3
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    So 65 views here and no clues.

    I have been in for a minor op, but home and all good now. While I was away, the door lock buttons sucked down into the lock position. which says to me the vacuum system is good.

    So I'm going to suspect the micro-switch once I get the door to open and can get at it. Tried wiggling a cut-off coathanger through the lock as per one you tube clip, but it didn't seem to do anything.

    Might be calling the pros on this one Thanks for reading guys.
    MY09 Golf Candy White 2.0 TDI Pacific
    MY95 Golf III TDI

  4. #4
    Join Date
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    Have had this happen to my CL three times during my 19.5 years of ownership. My VW specialist mechanic fixed it for me each time so I am not sure of the exact details of the fix but the way he explained it was that the mechanism seizes up with normal wear and tear and needs some lubrication periodically. I assumed that you need to get some WD40 or white lithium spray and spray the door latch mechanism. Worstcase would involve removing the door trim to lubricate all the door latch parts.

    Pete Shelley at Canberra VW Centre is the man to talk to, he is the owner and fixed it for me the first two times before he seachanged down the coast to open up workshop #3 in Kiama. He is on this forum time to time and now runs the Newcastle workshop (workshop #4) Newcastle Workshop. Pete might be able to give you some pointers over the phone if you give him a call.
    1997 Golf CL, 2011 Caddy Life TDI, 2007 Golf TDI, 1996 Vento GL (red), 2008 Skoda Octavia TDI
    1996 Vento GL (white) - RIP

  5. #5
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    Many thanks that's great.
    Good to know.
    I will be following up!
    MY09 Golf Candy White 2.0 TDI Pacific
    MY95 Golf III TDI

  6. #6
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    I had it happen to my wife's Mk3 years ago, it's an easy fix once you get the door trim off!
    Its a hard task with the door closed, but doable if you're patient.
    then release the latch from inside the door, and free up the latch mech, it gets stiff and the handle mechs don't quite actuate it far enough to release. Getting the door trim off was a bastard, I can't recall if I had to remove anything to do the job!
    Hope this helps,
    Cheers, Scott.
    1976 Martini Olive Mk1 2 door Swallowtail
    1981 black Mk1 ragtop GTI in need of some tlc
    1979 Mk1 2 door - long term project
    2002 Oettinger V5 Bora - daily driver

  7. #7
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    Thanks for that Scott.

    For a reason best known to itself, the driver's door decided to open this afternoon. It may have been the poking it got with a coathanger or the foul looks it was getting. Anyway, a T30 Torx and 45 degree key wiggle gets the outside handle off, squirt of liquid moly inside the inner door mechanism then replaced the handle. Now both the inside and outside door handles work.

    Central locking is different story. I can now manually lock the driver's door with the key again, but have to go round and manually lock each of the other doors. Started pulling bits off the inner door but ran out of light and time.

    I've looked through the Bentley manual and can't see a fuse for the central locking, (I thought if a micro-switch was gone it may show up as a blown fuse as well), so will pull stuff apart and see.

    Cheers
    MY09 Golf Candy White 2.0 TDI Pacific
    MY95 Golf III TDI

  8. #8
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    I suspect this isn't as easy as it used to be

    Anyway, Pulled the door apart and fixed the mechanical side of the lock with a bit of cleaning and lube. So the key works.

    Separating the lock from the door is a pain.

    The vacuum lock system still does not work however, so I've disconnected the pump, and the fuel filler lock so I can put fuel in, and am going to think about it.

    The RHF door lock/actuator code is 1Ho 862154A, and is very simple compared to later models, but I'm not sure its the problem. Can't seem to locate a relevant fuse and when I pulled the lock apart everything seemed OK.

    Apologies to those waiting with bated breath, been preoccupied with a skin graft on my ear which has prevented head down work.

    More when I have news
    MY09 Golf Candy White 2.0 TDI Pacific
    MY95 Golf III TDI

  9. #9
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    If the central locking system is not working then I believe the usual suspect is a leak in one or more of the vacuum hoses, which is to be expected due to the age of the Mk3s. Look for a perished vacuum hose.
    1997 Golf CL, 2011 Caddy Life TDI, 2007 Golf TDI, 1996 Vento GL (red), 2008 Skoda Octavia TDI
    1996 Vento GL (white) - RIP

  10. #10
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    Thanks, that looks like fun, pulling every bit of interior trim except the dash.
    I'm going to ask an auto-electrician or a Vagcom-equipped person to see if there's a fault.
    If that's all OK, will start into the irrigation system.
    MY09 Golf Candy White 2.0 TDI Pacific
    MY95 Golf III TDI

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