Author Topic: Driver's door won't open from outside???  (Read 1407 times)

Offline Lonewolf

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Driver's door won't open from outside???
« 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?
2001 Golf MkIV 2.0 GTI
1994 BMW E30 Touring Lux

Offline Dizzie

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Re: Driver's door won't open from outside???
« Reply #1 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:
« Last Edit: 31 January 2013, 13:16 by Dizzie »
Mk4 Golf 150PD

Offline Lonewolf

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Re: Driver's door won't open from outside???
« Reply #2 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!
2001 Golf MkIV 2.0 GTI
1994 BMW E30 Touring Lux

Offline opel

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Re: Driver's door won't open from outside???
« Reply #3 on: 31 January 2013, 15:13 »
Yer I would say its the little cable from the handle to the door lock

Offline bonny

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Re: Driver's door won't open from outside???
« Reply #4 on: 31 January 2013, 20:09 »
This bit  :wink:

The more you pay The faster you go.....

Offline Lonewolf

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Re: Driver's door won't open from outside???
« Reply #5 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?
2001 Golf MkIV 2.0 GTI
1994 BMW E30 Touring Lux

Offline Kelvin1977

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Re: Driver's door won't open from outside???
« Reply #6 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

Offline Lonewolf

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Re: Driver's door won't open from outside???
« Reply #7 on: 01 February 2013, 11:18 »
Cool!  Thanks Kelvin :)
2001 Golf MkIV 2.0 GTI
1994 BMW E30 Touring Lux

Offline Dizzie

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Re: Driver's door won't open from outside???
« Reply #8 on: 01 February 2013, 11:57 »
just like I said in my post...
Mk4 Golf 150PD

Offline bonny

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Re: Driver's door won't open from outside???
« Reply #9 on: 01 February 2013, 17:40 »
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
The more you pay The faster you go.....