Passat Drivers Door Lock Tempramental

[Paul757]

Hi Everyone, hoping for a bit of advice from anyone.... .....
2006 passat estate B6
Occasionally when get out my car and close drivers door, it does not catch on the lock and just swings back open ! However, if a hold the door shut pushing it in so its flush, as if it was locked as normal, and press the lock button on key fob, it will catch on the lock, but slides open a ween bit(enough to let rain in, of a gap). So if a sit in the car hold the door shut tight, and repeat'adly press lock and un lock on key pad , after mabay a half dozen or more trys , the door lock will catch and lock as normal, so a can get out close the door and lock it as normal !!
It used to happen only once in blue moon, but now its happening 1 in 3 or 4 days ! so its proper annoying me now,
Is this a door strip down job or a simple Diagnostic reset type (Were you can tell the CPU that a new part has just been fitted, but it no really, its still the old part thats fitted!!)

Any advice on sorting this out would be great.

[DMitch16]

I'd start with a scan to see if any electrical fault codes are logged under the door modules. If none move on to the obvious mechanical stuff. Greased / lubricated all of the moving parts possible? Made sure the door hook is in the right place and has not physically moved slightly? After this it's remove door card, inner panel and test solenoid actuators, inspect door latch mechanism for wear, weak springs, stiffness etc.

[Paul757]

Hi,
A wil get a closer look at the door at the weekend when there plenty a daylight, will post problems a find with it.
In the mean time a cant beleve my car has been disabled !! by a bonnet that wont close fully, and due to this the wipers dont work , as am sure some of out there all ready know ???
Av done the obvious, WD40 both top and bottom locks, but no avail ! Anybody any suggestions ... ....????

[DMitch16]

Hi,
A wil get a closer look at the door at the weekend when there plenty a daylight, will post problems a find with it.
In the mean time a cant beleve my car has been disabled !! by a bonnet that wont close fully, and due to this the wipers dont work , as am sure some of out there all ready know ???
Av done the obvious, WD40 both top and bottom locks, but no avail ! Anybody any suggestions ... ....????

The bonnet latch is a simple device with the hook, rotating latch and spring loaded pin (for want of a better word) attached to a cable. The cable itself is joined just over the light with a thin plastic junction box to enable the front end of the car to be isolated when putting it in 'service mode'. It's 2 cables really one long, one short. The latch is bolted in with 3 torx and is easily removed to inspect, grease repair or replace. Other things can stop the bonnet from closing such as engine cover not fully down, air pipes boxes etc not fitted correctly, other obstructions and so on. You can lock the latch manually and release it with a small screwdriver to test it's locking ability. If it won't release just pull the bonnet release from inside the car. Make sure the cables are connected in the plastic junction box before you shut the bonnet.

PS the bonnet hook depresses a spring mechanism further down before locking - it is this spring mechanism that 'pops' the bonnet when pulling the release. If it is jammed the bonnet won't engage fully and hence won't lock closed.

[Paul757]

Hi
Got 1 out of 2 probs sorted, GOt the Bonnet Lock fixed this evening after work .
It took 2 of us, myself to be yanking the leaver in drivers footwell back and forth, and my neighbour (who is HGV Mechanic) poking a screwdriver in the boot lock (above the grill) cleaning out the years of gunk and grime at both sides of the lock , as i was pulling the release leaver back n forth, spraying WD40 as a "cleaning method" and slight lubrication, as it cleaned out, we started hearing a click from the bonnet lock as i was pushing in and pulling out the release cable !! as we thought we had it sorted, down went the bonnet, and , well, STILL the bloody same as at the start !!! So we dropped around a dessert spoon size of engine oil over the lock to proper oil/lubricate, worked it in by useing the release leaver , and HEY PRESTO --- SUCCESS !!!!! Bonnet Lock Fixed !!!
Hope this quick fix lasts for a while, and a few others follow it and get off lightly like myself.
Cheers

[Paul757]

When you say the above in the post, the latch is bolted in with 3 Torx and easily removed ??
Well , I had the 6 TOrx screws out the top of the grill (trying to remove the whole part with big VW on it) in order to reach the bonnet lock to remove, I had just found the other to Torx at the underside of either end of the number plate that looked like they were holding the grill on. Was a on the right track here, to remove the grill ?? , however it was at this point my neighbour arrived home, and starting jiggling the lock screwdriver !! by sounds of way your talking in your post, should a been poking Torx screwdriver through the grill to reach the 3 screws to easily remove it for inspection/cleaning .... .... .... .... ....

[DMitch16]

I see from your other post that you've freed it.

For future reference the mid part of the grill is held in by 1 torx either side with the other 4 outer bolts holding the bumper cover onto the front plinth. It also has clip guides which can be a bit brittle and if I recall the number plate screws also hold it to the plastic underneath. If you ever have to remove the headlight you'll see what I mean as this involves removing the complete wrap around bumper cover, grill attached. It's not really a bumper as there is a large slam bar underneath which is essentially the real bumper covered by the pretty paint coated stuff.

Glad you've sorted the latch.