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mellowyellowky
Samba Member
Joined: November 23, 2024
Posts: 5
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 Posted: Tue Jun 17, 2025 6:52 pm Post subject: Driver Door Lock |
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Hi folks! So my driver door lock latch knob thingy came unattached, or at least I think that was the main issue. I thought the lock was "frozen", but I got the latch mechanism off this weekend and everything seemed to work correctly (as far as I could tell). However, after re-attaching everything, I realized that I could manually reach inside the door at work the lock (working the plastic piece up/down), but the key didn't unlock the mechanism. Also, the cylinder felt very spongy and soft.
So my question is: do you think I need a new cylinder? Or is there something else going on?
Regarding the latch and what I noticed - it seemed like I couldn't lock the door (working the lever manually reaching inside the door) unless the door was closed (i.e., the second of the two latches had to be engaged). This seemed different from the passenger door, but it's been so long since the lock worked, I don't remember if that's normal. My key does go in find and turns the mechanism that seems like it should unlock the latch.. but it doesn't seem to turn it enough. Not sure if that's a clue or not, but all this hopefully informs a solution.
Also.. I cannot seem to get the black lock knob re-engaged.. is it just patience or..?! |
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kamzcab86
Samba Moderator
Joined: July 26, 2008
Posts: 8462
Location: Arizona
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| Posted: Tue Jun 17, 2025 8:39 pm Post subject: Re: Driver Door Lock |
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| mellowyellowky wrote: |
| it seemed like I couldn't lock the door unless the door was closed... This seemed different from the passenger door... |
Driver's door must be closed and latched in order to lock it. All VW's of that era were that way in an effort to prevent locking the keys in the car.
_________________
~Kamz 
1986 Cabriolet: www.Cabby-Info.com
 1990 Vanagon Westfalia: Old Blue's Blog
2016 Golf GTI S
"Real knowledge is to know the extent of one's ignorance." - 孔子 |
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mellowyellowky
Samba Member
Joined: November 23, 2024
Posts: 5
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| Posted: Wed Jun 18, 2025 8:00 am Post subject: Re: Driver Door Lock |
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| kamzcab86 wrote: |
| Driver's door must be closed and latched in order to lock it. All VW's of that era were that way in an effort to prevent locking the keys in the car. |
Awesome - that's what I figured, just couldn't remember for sure. |
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mellowyellowky
Samba Member
Joined: November 23, 2024
Posts: 5
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| Posted: Thu Jun 19, 2025 7:41 pm Post subject: Re: Driver Door Lock |
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| So if it's the cylinder, is it worth trying to remove it and fix it? Or just go ahead and get some new ones? |
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