Doors unlock but dont open?

[m4xmw]

Just started to have a problem on my 1999 Passat Estate.

The rear doors unlock as normal but dont open with either interior or exterior handle.
It doesnt do it all the tim though and varies between rear doors.


I`m thinking comfort module under the passenger seat?

Any other opinions or similar experiences please?


Thanks in advance.

Mark

[Crasher]

This is common with the Golf 4 and Passat 3B rear door lock mechanisms and I suggest you get them both replaced before they cannot be opened at all, especially in an emergency.

[m4xmw]

JUst soaked the locks in wd40, Ill see if that makes a difference.

Otherwise new locks it is, as my new born daughter isnt gonna like being stuck in the car!

Mark

[fjsmits]

This is common with the Golf 4 and Passat 3B rear door lock mechanisms and I suggest you get them both replaced before they cannot be opened at all, especially in an emergency.

I have a 1998 Passat wagon and this has happend to mine. I cannot get the passenger side door open. I have pulled the interior trim off and even tried kicking the door near the lock with another person on the outside pulling on the handle but to no avail.

Anybody got any thought on how to firstly open the door and then after that replace the lock?

[Crasher]

It is a complete pain when they do this, you just have to keep working at it but don't do what I did when it opened, I tired it to see if it work, it didn't and I spent another twenty minutes trying to open it again.

[fjsmits]

Hi Dasher, but how did you get them open? I have the trim off but cannot get in behind the glass mechanism to get to the lock.

There appears to be a single catch on the glass that I need to release before I can get to the lock.

It is a white plastic catch but I cannot see whow to disengage it.

Regards
fjsmits

[theglobetroter]

Hi mate have just had the same prob myself on 1999 passat sport.To get the window out the carrier?If ur set up is the same as mine u will be looking through the inspection hole on the aluminium protection plate u will be seeing a wire that carries the window up and down. Behind that u should be looking at the white plastic.If u put the window right down u will see just a small hole in the plastic right in the centre of the the black metal frame its hard to see first time round i missed it myself a couple of times anyway what it actually is is two plastic tubes that fit inside each other they sit in a hole in the bottom of the glass.To get them out u first need to screw a wood screw or something simalar into the small hole you can see not to far in though just enough for the screw to have a grip and then pull at it with pliers or simalar this then will come out leaving the other plastic tube still there.This one is bigger so u just need to find something a bit bigger to screw into that think i used a 5mm bolt and just do the same again i did struggle myself with this one and i ended up pushing it out the other way so that it falls into the door itself no probs really just watch u dont loose them.I have stripped this door right down to a shell everything out lock handle cables the lot blody headache if u need any info just ask. good lck.

[fjsmits]

Hi mate have just had the same prob myself on 1999 passat sport.To get the window out the carrier?If ur set up is the same as mine u will be looking through the inspection hole on the aluminium protection plate u will be seeing a wire that carries the window up and down. Behind that u should be looking at the white plastic.If u put the window right down u will see just a small hole in the plastic right in the centre of the the black metal frame its hard to see first time round i missed it myself a couple of times anyway what it actually is is two plastic tubes that fit inside each other they sit in a hole in the bottom of the glass.To get them out u first need to screw a wood screw or something simalar into the small hole you can see not to far in though just enough for the screw to have a grip and then pull at it with pliers or simalar this then will come out leaving the other plastic tube still there.This one is bigger so u just need to find something a bit bigger to screw into that think i used a 5mm bolt and just do the same again i did struggle myself with this one and i ended up pushing it out the other way so that it falls into the door itself no probs really just watch u dont loose them.I have stripped this door right down to a shell everything out lock handle cables the lot blody headache if u need any info just ask. good lck.

Hi Globetrotter, that is what I figured it was just that I could not see in the hole because the door is still locked in the closed position so for me to look inside I need to lay on the seat and tunnel just to get down low enough to see in the access hole.

I've booked it in to the VW place and they should be able to fix it without breaking anything.

Thanks for the response.
fjsmits

[theglobetroter]

Just started to have a problem on my 1999 Passat Estate.

The rear doors unlock as normal but dont open with either interior or exterior handle.
It doesnt do it all the tim though and varies between rear doors.


I`m thinking comfort module under the passenger seat?

Any other opinions or similar experiences please?


Thanks in advance.

Mark

Hi mark have u sorted ur problem yet with ur doors.If u can still open them at the moment now would be a good time to check a few things on the locking mech.I have just spent a fortnight fixing the same prob and saved a lot of cash. The money vw dealerships wanted for labour to strip door down was shocking.Dont get me wrong it was very time consuming as my rear door just would not open from inside or outside, but I did manage to get the door card and the protective aluminium plate off without any damage and then I was able to get to the locking mech and there lay the prob.my lock wasnt operating properly it wasnt falling all the way down into the housing so it was sticking up just about 2-3 mm which ment it wouldnt clear the striker plate.I had tried umpteen times to pull on the inner door cable and outer door handle to open door when i had stripped it all down but wouldnt open various people had advised me that the only way to open it would be to smash the lock off even an rac guy. so after many days of trying to open it i decided that was the only course of action left. I hit the lock once and thought i will try inside cable again and hey presto door opened.With the door opened I was able to take the lock out and thats when I seen the lock mech wasnt operating properly off to the car breakers got one there fitted it on my door everything working fine now.Hell of a job but would hate to think wat vw would have charged on labour and new locking mech. One things for sure: now I know every blody part that is fitted to passat rear door( haha)

[Elvis]

Rather than start a new thread I thought it make sense to reserect this one as my problem is the same as the above.

List as follows:

Drivers door electric windows stop working.

Strip down door find on the cables that moves the window up and down snapped the rest has completely knackered the pulley at the motor.


Replace the plate that that has the window motors, speaker, lock on etc.

Rebuild the door, close the door, find it won't open even when unl;ocked from either internal or external handle.

Many hours later after (eventualy randomly opening) strip down and rebuild the door 2 or 3 times, then more random not opening follwed by 20 minutes trying to get it open, decide to buy replacement lock.

Fitted new look tested a few times fine.

Go to try it today, fine if the door isn't locked, but if locked and unlocked, from the outside it needs two pulls (most times) sometimes refuses, until hit "just right", from the inside if it's locked then unlocked refuses to open at all!!!!!

So I've changed the lock and it's still doing it!!! What more can I try!!!!



Elvis