Car door open this morning

**rickgti** · 31-07-2007,09:05 AM

I came out to my Mk4 Golf this morning and found that the driver door was open. there was matalan bag with a couple of my G/f's cheapy tops in on the drivers seat. I thought **** i left my stereo in. Anyway the face from the stereo was on the drivers seat and the head unit didn't look like it had even been tampered with.

As far as I can see nothing is missing, all my cd's are still there, a couple of t-shirts that were in the boot and my amp / cd changer.

Really weird nothings gone at all "touch wood"

I'll probs remember something in a bit but i am sure i took everything out yesterday.

Anyway the driver door was unlocked but the passenger side was locked, i'm not sure about the boot because i opened it before seeing if it was open. I wonder if the car didn't lock itself when I got out even though i am sure i locked it properly. Anyone seen this happen? Perhaps it was just an opportunist and there was nothing easy to get out and of significant value in the car.

The worrying thing is that this has happened to 2 neighbours in the past, over a month a go. the door was open on there car as if they had a key or something.

**Eshrules** · 31-07-2007,09:20 AM

Originally Posted by rickgti

I came out to my Mk4 Golf this morning and found that the driver door was open. there was matalan bag with a couple of my G/f's cheapy tops in on the drivers seat. I thought **** i left my stereo in. Anyway the face from the stereo was on the drivers seat and the head unit didn't look like it had even been tampered with.

As far as I can see nothing is missing, all my cd's are still there, a couple of t-shirts that were in the boot and my amp / cd changer.

Really weird nothings gone at all "touch wood"

I'll probs remember something in a bit but i am sure i took everything out yesterday.

Anyway the driver door was unlocked but the passenger side was locked, i'm not sure about the boot because i opened it before seeing if it was open. I wonder if the car didn't lock itself when I got out even though i am sure i locked it properly. Anyone seen this happen? Perhaps it was just an opportunist and there was nothing easy to get out and of significant value in the car.

The worrying thing is that this has happened to 2 neighbours in the past, over a month a go. the door was open on there car as if they had a key or something.

what year/model is yours mate and does it have remote central locking or not?

**rickgti** · 31-07-2007,12:04 PM

99 2.0GTi with remote central locking.

**rickgti** · 31-07-2007,04:19 PM

do you think the transponder signal/code could be captured and used to open the door.... the alarm doesn't appear to have gone off.

**Eshrules** · 31-07-2007,04:29 PM

Originally Posted by rickgti

do you think the transponder signal/code could be captured and used to open the door.... the alarm doesn't appear to have gone off.

hmm... no, i dont think thats possible to be honest, you'd have to have some good equipment to start doing that and no offence intended here, but if you had that equipment you wouldnt be dealing in vw golfs, more like merc's and bmws to order etc.

is it possible you didnt quite close your door properly before locking? i've done it a few times (luckily noticed quite soon afterwards) and the alarm wont arm if that happens, im not sure if the other doors would lock....

does it lock and unlock fine at the moment?

**Ben** · 31-07-2007,08:45 PM

this learning suggestion...

years ago in birmingham there was a spate of high profile car thafts, luxury things, bmw merc, jag etc being nicked from the dealers. this went on for weeks untill they were caught. the onlt baffling thing was, no one could understand how the thieves were unlocking the cars and getting past the alarms.

well you know those wrist watches that could learn frequencies like for you tv remote and your garage door, thats how they did it. go for a test drive, learn the frequency, nick the car.

a side.

I'd like try on of those watches in comet, it'd cause mild panic in the store when all the tv volumes would increase.

**ini** · 31-07-2007,09:20 PM

There are well known security issues with the mk4 & Passat, which give access to the car and disable the alarm.

The solution is to disable windows 'full closure', and/or add a 'delocking' kit, or add an after market alarm which is not activated/deactivated by the drivers door signal.

VW have so far pretty much ignored the issue.

At least one of the entry methods damages the door handles, and shows other signs of being used.

It is possible to record remote signals from a distance, but the hardware is not commonly available anymore. + VAG cars have limited RF range to combat this problem.

Do you by any chance live near a TV/radio transmitter, or a large police station?

**rickgti** · 01-08-2007,08:22 AM

i leave near both a tv transmitter and a large police station... but it depends how near "near" is?

It may be that I didn't shut the door properly but my neighbours skoda was done 6 times with the same symptoms he said he thought he was going mad.

**Eshrules** · 01-08-2007,08:37 AM

Originally Posted by ini

There are well known security issues with the mk4 & Passat, which give access to the car and disable the alarm.

The solution is to disable windows 'full closure', and/or add a 'delocking' kit, or add an after market alarm which is not activated/deactivated by the drivers door signal.

VW have so far pretty much ignored the issue.

At least one of the entry methods damages the door handles, and shows other signs of being used.

It is possible to record remote signals from a distance, but the hardware is not commonly available anymore. + VAG cars have limited RF range to combat this problem.

Do you by any chance live near a TV/radio transmitter, or a large police station?

i've just got a de locking kit and ill do a brief how to when i do so, theres a 101 of them on various forums already....

im intrigued though... how do you disable the total closure? is it a vagcom thing? if so... do you know what channel has to be adapted as im guessing its a central convenience adaptation?