Help - Drivers door won't close!

[Last Triumph]

Typical, just whilst you're trying to solve one problem, another occurs.

My drivers door won't close.

By this, I mean when you close the door, it just bounces back off the seal and won't 'catch'.

I've checked the visible part of the mechanism on the door edge and it is in the correct position and matches the other doors and opperates freely.

I've given the handle a few firm 'taps', but it's still the same.

It's is as if I'm holding the door handle open as I'm trying to close the door if that makes any sense?

Any ideas or cluse on what it is or how I might fix it?

[bigplum]

you could try operating the key fob a good few times... unlock lock etc,
but It sounds like the door mechanism has failed ( I had that on a my old astra )

you could also try rolling the door catch around with a screwdriver to simulate the action of closing the door , than lift the handle to see if it releases

[robinp]

I just had this with my A6, a quick spray with WD40 sorted it.

[Last Triumph]

I just had this with my A6, a quick spray with WD40 sorted it.

Great stuff, thanks.

Is there any area I should spray it?

Behind any seals or plugs, do I need to remove anything?
Any access holes etc?

[scotty33]

I had this problem with mine. I found that I needed to dismantle the doorcatch mechanism - problem is, it's rivetted together! I drilled the heads off and opened it up. A springloaded pin or 'detent' is used to hold the latch closed as the door closes. In mine, somehow this had fallen out of position.
I reassembled and spot welded where the rivet heads had been.
A new mechanism is probably easier!

[Last Triumph]

I tried the screwdriver to test the latch mech.
In the working doors, as the screwdriver enters the mech, it clicks once as the catch rotates, then clicks again as you pish it further.
On the stuck drivers door, the latch rotates freely like the others, but doesn't click in either position. As soon as I withdraw the screw driver, it just springs back so the latch mech is working freely.
Whatever mechanism is opperated by the door handle, has stuck in the open position.
I need to undertand how this works and how to most easily access it and free it off.
Anyone?

[Last Triumph]

I had this problem with mine. I found that I needed to dismantle the doorcatch mechanism - problem is, it's rivetted together! I drilled the heads off and opened it up. A springloaded pin or 'detent' is used to hold the latch closed as the door closes. In mine, somehow this had fallen out of position.
I reassembled and spot welded where the rivet heads had been.
A new mechanism is probably easier!

Okay, looks like I'll need to get the mech out.

I'll need to get a manual I guess, but in the mean time, I hear it's bitch to get out?

Any hints or tips on the door panel and window regulator?

[andy pen]

Hi I removed the latch whrn I did my window regulator.I followed the haynes for this and although it's a bit long winded process all came out and went back together well BUT I did need to get a set of multi spline bits to undo the latch from the door as they 'aint torkz bits!!!

[Last Triumph]

As I'm not currently using my Passat and becuase lots of door slamming and WD40 has not fixed the problem of my door latch not latching, I'll pull the mech next week whilst I have some time off.

Here is my challenge to mysef.

It isn't an electrical fault, therefore it must be a mechanical issue.
On this basis, something must have become detatched, fallen out of adjustment or broken - that's all it can be.

People say that they are sealed and they can't be 'opened up' as they are rivited together etc, etc.

Well, nuts to that I say.

If I have to cut plastic, drill rivets or grind welds I'm getting in there and I'm going to fix it as I simply refuse to pay £90 odd to a VW dealer for a new lock!

I'll report back!

[scotty33]

Funnily enough, I just had mine apart to change the inner doorpull cable - should have taken some pics but it was too cold to mess about..

1, unclip the inner 'bar' part from the door handle (prise this towards the outside of the car)

2 prise the door handle/elec window fascia upwards and disconnect

3 undo the 3 large phillips screws now exposed

4 undo 2 torx screws at bottom of the trim

5 unclip the panel - pull bottom towards you, then slide the window seal upwards
disconnect everything from the doortrim

6 Remove the 2 50mm(ish) bungs from the window regulator panel, reconnect the window switch and lower the window until the glass securing screws are accessible, loosen these and slide glass up - either gaffer tape it fully up or slide it out of the door completely

7 undo the numerous 10mm head bolts which secure the regulator

8 undo the 2 multi spline bolts which secure the lock mech in place

9 disconnect/unclip the wiring harness from the regulator.

10 I guess you should remove the lock barrel, it is secured by another torx screw alongside the lock mech ones. I know the procedure for doing this is fiddly and ideally needs 3 hands!
I found that the lock mech can be manouvered out of engagement with the barrel inner end, but it is fiddly to get back in this way - your choice..

As I said above, the lock mech halves are rivetted together, drill the heads off and you can open it up, I think there was a circuit board inside take care with this..

[Last Triumph]

Thanks for that - if I have any feeling in my fingers, I'll do a photo documentation of the whole procedure.

Hoping to do this iether tomorrow or Tuesday.

Fingers crossed.

[Last Triumph]

Ok, here's a strange one....

Just popped out to the garage to get something and thought I'd just try the door again.

Guess what?

It closed.

HOWEVER........

It now won't open with the outer door handle.

Fortunately, I'd left the window open so I could reach inside and phew, the inside handle works fine.

I tried it a few times, wiggled the latch with a screwdriver, squirted more WD40 in the latch mech and fiddled some more, but still the outer handle doesn't workd yet the inner one does and the door now closes.

How bizzare?

I can only assume that somethig has finaly freed off enough to allow the latch to return to it's closed position to allow the door to click shut, yet the outer handle still doesn't work.....

Does this suggest anything to anyone, or am I still going to have to pull it all appart?

[scotty33]

Possibly your outer door handle cable was frayed/unhooked and jammed in the 'open' position and has now snapped or disconnected itself?
To replace the cable you would have to strip it down as outlined above.
It may be necessary to remove the key barrel section in order to replace the cable.
When you fit the new cable the mechanism is sensitive to how the freeplay is set up. The nipple on the end of the cable can sit in a few different positions, you may need to experiment to get it to work.

[Last Triumph]

Ah, is that the one with the little black plastic knob on the end that fits into a u-shaped and ribbed slot in the handle edge, visible with the lock barrel removed?

It seemed in perfect condition and I put it back in the slot carefully before I put the barrel back in.

I trust the ribbed sections in the slot are to allow different 'tensions' to be set on the cable?

Maybe I set it too loose when I re-assembled it and need to pull it more taught so there is moreaction on the cable?

Does this make sense?

[Last Triumph]

Success!

I started by investigating the simplt stuff first, so I pulled the lock barrel out again and found that I hadn't pushed the cable end tang properly 'home' into the grooved slot so it had just popped out when I'd re-assembled it.

I gave it a few tuggs which resulted in opening the door (hooray!) and then pulled it taught with some long nosed pliers, then pressed it home into the channel - it alsomst clicks into place.

Whilst holding it in place with my finger, I tried the door a few more times via the now attached outer handle and it worked a treat.

I carefully put the lock barrel back being very careful not to let the black plastic tang pop out again, sprayed everything with another good soaking of WD40 and putt it all back and wiped it down.

Hey presto - sorted.

So, ultimately, it was a good soaking over a few days with WD40 that eventually freed it off, but an incorrect re-assembly by me on the initial inspection that caused the failure of the outer door handle.

At least I didn't have to strip the door down as it's bloody freezing cold today and I couldn't feel my fingers.

[jonn]

Hi, I've had a 99 passat from new and have experienced this on all of the doors. A garage will probably tell you that you need a new handle but this is what I find works. Get a can of wd40 preferably with the thin tube that pushes into the nozzle and hold the handle open and spray as best you can inside. Then spray the door lock part which you can see with the door open. Work the handle several times the try slamming the door (- you may need to do this a few times before it stays shut.) I try to lubricate all the doors every 6 months and have not had to strip the doors or buy any handles. Good luck.