Drivers door sticks

[tictok]

Hi all - first post here so please be gentle with me

I've just bought a 2004 black 1.9 TDI 130 highline passat. I think I paid a fair price for it with 64k on the clock, as other than a couple of interior minor trim issues all seems good, except for that the drivers door sticks.

Its not exactly the door itself that is jamming, but more to do with the mechanism I think.

A couple of swift, strong tugs (ooh-err) on the door handle usually does the job, but sometimes it takes more.

Is the a common fault? An ideas on the best approach to investigating / fixing?

Many thanks
Stef


p.s. its also not yet had a cam belt change that I can tell. Is this something that needs doing at 64k, or do you think it's good for 10-15k miles more before a change? thanks!

[martin1810]

You could try spraying a lot of WD40 into the mechanism and see what happens. Re..cambelt. It is due around 60-80k but most people recommend at least every 4 years so in terms of time, you are overdue. I would change it to be on the safe side.

[tictok]

Thanks Martin, I'll go and try the WD40 now... simplest options first eh!, but I guess they're the ones that usually work (and are over looked).

As fro cam-belt.. I kind of thought as much. Definitely better safe than sorry.

I'll let you know how the sticky door goes.

Cheers
Stef

[snapdragon]

When you pull the handle it pulls a cable, and this is adjusted at the handle end. It is designed to slip if forced and often does, meaning that the handle has to be pulled right to the end of it's travel in order to take up the cable slack.
If you pull the handle out, look at the part that goes in adjacent to the lock and you can see a small plastic rectangular block which has serrated edges and goes into a groove which is serrated. You can flick it out with a screwdriver and push back in in a different position to adjust, but I think you need to remove the door lock barrel first so that you can adjust it with the handle at the rest position.

[Izalman]

Passat door lock mechanism don't age well they are notorious for the plastic parts in them drying out and becoming 'stiff' to operate ala your symptoms. I had exactly the same fault.
Was told it was a bit of a steward to DIY change so booked the car into the **** Turpins VW garage, I specificly asked them to replace the door catch mechanism, all they did was replace the little cable ( allegedly stretched) AND the door outer handle.
Relieved me of £175 for the work - the door opening marginally better then but now in the hot weather - it's just as bad.
Passenger sides playing up now too - Boss not impressed having to pull the handle out of the door to get in...
My mate has an 05 model - he has had 4 drivers door locks replaced 3 new ones under VW parts warranty..... he has to pay the labour though.
Not really sure of a solution..