'02 Golf central locking issues

[hooky1742]

Greetings VWAF folk! I have a '52 reg golf TDi which has recently developed a whole myriad of issues with the central locking. Firstly, the unlock button on the key only seems to unlock the drivers door. I know there is a mechanism whereby pressing the button once unlocks the drivers door, and pushing it twice is supposed to unlock everything else, but the second button press doesn't do anything. I don't think its an issue with the key, as it does the same thing with my spare key(s). I have to push the central locking button in the drivers door panel to unlock everything else.

The front passenger door is more of an issue, sometimes it won't unlock full stop. Doesn't respond to the key, doesn't respond to the drivers door button. Pulling the interior handle causes the lock to lift up, but when the handle is released the lock goes back down. There is no response to the exterior handle either. Usually it's possible to get the door open eventually, with a combination of repeatedly locking/unlocking the doors via the drivers door button and jiggling the interior handle of the passenger door around. Sometimes it can take about half an hour of that malarkey to get the door open, which is pretty infuriating!

Lastly, the troublesome front passenger door sometimes doesn't remote lock using the key. The lock button on the key does work, in that it locks everything else. Most of the time the door does lock, but occasionally it doesn't and I don't notice until I return to the car, relieved to find that it hasn't been nicked!

My local (non WV) garage quoted ~£500 to have it fixed, the VW dealership wanted over £700. I don't have that kinda money so Im hoping the problem is caused by some dodgy sensor which I can purchase from Halfords for 99p and install myself given a bit of time and some heavy language!

Many thanks in advance to anyone who can help!

[Crasher]

You need to start with a fault code read of the convenience system to see what codes are stored. If it is a faulty convenience unit, there is no Halfords 99p fix.

[hooky1742]

Thanks for the reply, I will get myself a fault code reader and post back with the results.

[Dave Elcome]

My wifes Golf has the exact same problems. I have run a VCDS Scan and it tells me there are 'implausible signals' from all the door locks, and gives codes 00928 to 00931 respectively for the four doors.

Yesterday I took the O/S/F door panel off and gave the internals of the door catch a good soaking with spray grease. The initial impression is that its working better, IE It will operate first time, whereas before it was necessary to use the remote button several times before the drivers door would struggle into life.

Could it just be as simple as the catch mechanisms being seized up, or have I just been lucky this time? The next vexing question is how do I get the rear doors open when they refuse to respond to anything?

[Crasher]

how do I get the rear doors open when they refuse to respond to anything?

With extreme difficulty, I dread getting them come in like that as I often have to destroy the handle and if that does not work, the inner door card.

[hooky1742]

OK, the VAG305 code reader I bought arrived this morning, just tried reading the codes. I'm a complete noob when it comes to electronic diagnostics like this - I'm stuck in the days of old when it was possible to fix things with a spanner. And sometimes a hammer!

Anyway, In the "Engine" category, there was one error code - 17664. In the A/T category, I got a "LINKING ERROR!" message on the scanner. In the SRS section it came up with one error, 00532. No errors in the ABS category.

According to the internet, error 17664 is something to do with coolant level sensor. I was getting warning messages saying "STOP CHECK COOLANT SERVICE MANUAL". That was diagnosed as a dodgy sensor and was replaced and fixed at the last service.

The LINKING ERROR! is more puzzling, the connection was sound and the ignition was on (had no problem scanning the other 3 systems) so for some reason the VAG305 cant/wont communicate with whatever the A/T system is.

According to the manual, error 00532 apparantly means either 1) "Transmission control module relay - supply voltage (B+) malfunction low battery of bad ground" or 2) Supply Voltage (B+). I don't know what any of that means, unless it's trying to tell me the battery is flat (which it isn't).

None of these seem overly likely to help with the central locking issue, unless thats controlled by the unreadable A/T system.

[Crasher]

It could be that there is a problem with the convenience system or your scanner does not work properly. You will have to try it on another car.