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Model specific boards => Golf mk4 => Topic started by: Lonewolf on 31 January 2013, 12:45

Title: Driver's door won't open from outside???
Post by: Lonewolf on 31 January 2013, 12:45

Went out the other day and used central locking to open up, everything opened okay, but the driver's door wouldn't open from the outside., and yet the passenger let me in from the inside handle which still works!? WTF  :rolleyes:

As per Google search, I have tried opening and slamming said door shut - which seems to have worked for others - and also disconnected the battery and reconnected, but to no avail.......................... :cry:

Any ideas?

Title: Re: Driver's door won't open from outside???
Post by: Dizzie on 31 January 2013, 12:59

the tiny erm, latch bit? bit that goes from the mech onto the handle has most likely popped out. I've had this happen in the cold weather before. I think moisture gets between them and then freezes and the ice pushes it out. I superglued it back in and never had a problem again.

With the door open hold the handle out and undo slowly (not all the way out!) the T20 torx screw from behind the plastic grommet. Eventually the handle won't go back in. It's around this point you'll be able to wiggle and remove the rear part of the door handle with the Key hole on. You'll see the bit that needs to be refitted then. I tend to fit mine around the middle of the adjustment notches.

The way that part is held in is with a sort of disc with cutouts on that when you unscrew the T20 screw it rotates the disc allowing the cutouts to line up with the lugs on the part you want to remove. If you remove that T20 completely it'll be a nightmare to get back together and will probably result in a near full door strip down to fix  :cry:

Title: Re: Driver's door won't open from outside???
Post by: Lonewolf on 31 January 2013, 13:35

Thanks, Dizzie.  :smiley:

The cold damp weather here in France has been the culprit then!   I'll take a look at the part you mentioned and see what's what.

Merci, mon ami!

Title: Re: Driver's door won't open from outside???
Post by: opel on 31 January 2013, 15:13

Yer I would say its the little cable from the handle to the door lock

Title: Re: Driver's door won't open from outside???
Post by: bonny on 31 January 2013, 20:09

This bit  :wink:

(http://i777.photobucket.com/albums/yy56/bonny71/doorhandlelock_zps712548db.jpg)

Title: Re: Driver's door won't open from outside???
Post by: Lonewolf on 31 January 2013, 22:48

Excellent, that photo's very useful!  Thanks   :smiley:

How do you remove the outer part of the handle as in your photo?

Title: Re: Driver's door won't open from outside???
Post by: Kelvin1977 on 31 January 2013, 23:58

Open door there is a plastic cap remove it then if I remember its a torq bit loosen and it just slides out

Title: Re: Driver's door won't open from outside???
Post by: Lonewolf on 01 February 2013, 11:18

Cool!  Thanks Kelvin :)

Title: Re: Driver's door won't open from outside???
Post by: Dizzie on 01 February 2013, 11:57

just like I said in my post...

Title: Re: Driver's door won't open from outside???
Post by: bonny on 01 February 2013, 17:40

Quote from: Dizzie on 01 February 2013, 11:57

just like I said in my post...

like he said in his post  :whistle:
but a pic is always helpfull  :cool: scroll down the page till you come to it!

http://forums.vwvortex.com/showthread.php?1015107

Title: Re: Driver's door won't open from outside???
Post by: Lonewolf on 03 February 2013, 14:00

Dizzie, bonny, Kelvin1977 - thanks to you the door now opens perfectly!!!


Dizzie, I used your excellent written instructions along with the photos bonny linked me to.  Better than a Haynes manual ............

Cheers, fellas   :nerd: