Roy B
05-11-2009, 02:36 AM
Although I am a Forum member for almost a year, this is my first question. I have a problem at present with the front passenger door of my 2003 VW Passat 1.9TDI 130BHP 1896cc diesel saloon with Comfortline spec., which I cannot open either by the outside or inside handles and it doesn't matter if I attempt to open or close the door using the button on the key or by operating the key in the driver's door lock.
I have spoken to my mechanic who is a diesel expert with over 30 years experience, but is not a VW Main Dealer. He said he spoke to the service manager at a main dealer to ask about how he could open the door. The service manager said that they have come across this problem many times and their solution is to place a long length of 3" X 3" timber (that goes across the 2 seats and through the open drivers door) against the inside of the passenger door near the lock and to hit the timber very hard with a sledge hammer from outside the driver's door. My mechanic was not sold on this approach and he intends trying to remove the door card after removing the passenger seat and thereby gaining access to the lock to open the door. I am not happy with this approach either as I am sure that the door card will be damaged and will never be right after.
Can anyone offer some good advice on first opening the door with as little damage as possible and secondly the best method of resolving the problem with the locking mechanism.
I would really appreciate you help.
Roy B
I have spoken to my mechanic who is a diesel expert with over 30 years experience, but is not a VW Main Dealer. He said he spoke to the service manager at a main dealer to ask about how he could open the door. The service manager said that they have come across this problem many times and their solution is to place a long length of 3" X 3" timber (that goes across the 2 seats and through the open drivers door) against the inside of the passenger door near the lock and to hit the timber very hard with a sledge hammer from outside the driver's door. My mechanic was not sold on this approach and he intends trying to remove the door card after removing the passenger seat and thereby gaining access to the lock to open the door. I am not happy with this approach either as I am sure that the door card will be damaged and will never be right after.
Can anyone offer some good advice on first opening the door with as little damage as possible and secondly the best method of resolving the problem with the locking mechanism.
I would really appreciate you help.
Roy B