Door staying locked/unlocked problem

[vwbassett]

Hi, After 6 months of trouble free LCR motoring i sadly have my first problem.

My problem is when I unlock the car the passenger front door doesnt always unlock and you cant open it from inside or outside. Other times if i lock the car I can still open the same door even though the others are all locked but sometimes it is fine. I have noticed a different sound(slower, clunkier and louder) on locking that door for some time but as its usually just me in the car i dont really check the doors are locking/unlocking as they should. This is a big security problem at the moment as although there is an alarm people can still open the door unless I check its locked so I really need advice fast please if any one can help.

Thanks
Adam

 

[vwbassett]

Can anyone confirm what some people call the solenoid is the same as the module? as thats whats mentioned as a common problem on VW Vortex

 

[vwbassett]

Anyone?

 

[D.K]

Have you tryed WD40 ???
There's a guy in the for sale section who's breaking a Leon,

 

[vwbassett]

Cheers DK, although i think friday il strip the door to see if theres anything visible plus ive seen on the vw vortex forum control modules can need resoldering so im going to try the free diy solution first.
Adam

 

[marcus037]

vwbassett i would like to hear if you find what the problem is, i have the same with my drivers side door, all the others lock but i hear the clunking noise from the drivers door and can be opened when im waiting at lights by anybody outside, but when i press the remote button it locks fine, very strange i think!

 

[vwbassett]

Il post back tomorrow or sat if its resolved and i really hope it is as i was taking the christmas period off.

Marcus that does sound similar to how mine started - heard the clunking of the mechanism which turned into not being able to lock or open the door few months later but as i rarely have a passenger i never really notice unless the girlfriends locked out, which isnt always a bad thing

 

[vwbassett]

Fixed!

Finally got this all sorted - HOORAY!
After a second bash at it and seeing a DIY guide on Vortex (http://forums.vwvortex.com/zerothread?id=1015107) if got it all sorted. If your thinking of doing the same taking the trim panel off is very easy just cover a flat blade screwdriver in duck take to stop scratching plastics and the door. You will also need a T20 screwdriver/bit to remove the lower door panel screws. Once this is off youve got the metal panel that has the window motor and gubbins attached. Nothing special there except when you remove it best to have two people as its fiddly. Then you can see the locking mechanism which has 2 m8 spline bolts which i know is a tool most weekend mechanics dont have so make sure youve got this.

Most importantly of all DO NOT REMOVE THE DOOR BLANK RETAINING SCREW(point 19 in the guide) the t20 screw above the latch as i found out the hard way it is a pig to get back in when trying to hold the module, cables, lock blank, retaining clip and a screwdriver ended up wasting more than an hour on it and almost gave up but with a hammer and a screwdriver it all came together happily.

As for the module - if its making noises/works now and again id replace it. Its a lot at £85excluding vat but i took mine apart and its hard to see the problem. The circuit boards been dipped so you cant just solder the contacts which are a problem in the vortex guide and i havent a clue how the micro switches work but everything looked ok other than water ingress by the wiring socket so i couldnt tell what was wrong so better to just have a new one and be done with it.

Hope this little write up helps people in similar positions
Adam

 

[NeilMcK]

Hi Adam,

Good post!!

Do you know what the part number is? I reckon I need one for mine :-(

I asked at the dealer and was quoted £180 so I reckon they quoted me the wrong thing, even though I asked for the front passenger door lock mechanism.

Seems it's a very common fault on vw based cars....

My wife's Bora is also playing up.

Cheers,

Neil.

 

[vwbassett]

Hi Neil, If that is the problem the updated part for the leon front passenger door module is S3B2837015AK, i got mine from a vag dealer and he called it just a lock which it is noted aswell on the invoice. The price youve been quoted sounds like it includes labour? If you attempt it good luck with it and let me know how it goes.
Adam