Door Won't Open - Let Me Out!

[bangerman 2]

Hi all.

 

I have an F reg 205 Gti that won't let my passengers out. The door opens fine from the outside but the door release on the inside has no effect.

 

I've had all the door card off and peered inside and everything appears to be connected up properly. But still the inside door release lever won't open the door. The lock still works with the key and the button thing goes up and down to lock and unlock the door.

 

Could anyone tell me if this is likely to be the latch unit itself and if so is it fixable? Or does it required a replacement unit? If I need a replacement, is there anyone out there who could help me out please? My car has just failed it's MOT on this problem.

 

Many thanks

 

Dave.

[steve@cornwall 100]

It's possible the door handle is starting to seize and not fully return after opening, although this usually affects opening from outside too. Worth taking the handle off and lubricating the mechanism until it fully springs back without assistance.

With the door card off you could also try pulling down on the rod that connects the inside release to the latch to see if it will open. I should think if that opens the door it would point to latch wear, effectively shortening the rod by putting a bend in it may get you through mot until you source another latch.

If looking for a replacement latch and you have central locking you will need a central locking latch. If it's manual locking either type will do.

Edited November 8, 2016 by steve@cornwall

[welshpug 1,648]

latches are the same cl to non CL I thought, as the solenoid is a separate part.

[bangerman 2]

Thanks for your replies.

 

I don't think the problem is anything to do with the handles. They both work freely (although the inside one doesn't do anything) and spring back without any stiffness. I have tried pulling on the rod directly and that doesn't do anything either. So I'm fairly confident it is the latch that has gone faulty.

 

As for the CL / non-CL aspect, I was told today by a Pug Parts Specialist that the CL latch has an additional catch on it that the non-CL latch doesn't have. Presumably for the solenoid to actuate.

 

I not sure if my car came with factory central locking. It came with a problematic after market immobiliser that seems to be connected in to everything electrical. Since disconnecting the immobiliser the central locking works with a variety of random effects. Locking one door but not the other. Unlocking but not locking and vice versa. All I'm really bothered about at the moment is getting it through an MOT as it runs out on Friday and is my only car!

 

Any help / advice would be greatly appreciated.

 

Dave.

[wicked 103 3 Cars]

Note that you don't need to feel any diff on the handle if the internals don't return completely.

I've seen the same with the car of a friend. It can still be that the handle pulls a bit on the latch and block the internal handle.

Just try to disconnect the (external) door handle from the latch and try before you get a new latch...

[bangerman 2]

OK. Thanks, I will give that a go when I retrieve the car from the MOT test station.

 

Cheers

 

Dave.

[Telf 224 2 Cars]

I've had this issue on my GR recently. Although the handles work fine(as in is smooth etc) if you watch the operation of the lock mechanism (at least on mine) the assembly inside the door doesn't actually fully operate and it stops the door from opening. It's hard to explain but if you compare the operation with the good side the problem becomes apparent.

 

With mine you could reset the mechanism and it worked fine if unlocked from inside- the passenger could operate the handle and enter the car. However if they pulled the handle whilst the door was locked the door then wouldnt open without a fiddly reset with a long screwdriver.

 

After a bit of reshaping of the mechanism it all works fine now.