Hi all,

My '53 Fabia TDI has decided it doesn't want anyone in the front passenger seat, and has locked the door.

The central locking doesn't open it and there is no sound from the door mechanism. The pin stays down with global unlock too. The outer handle does nothing and there's no keyhole on the outside. If you pull on the inner handle, the pin lifts but the door stays locked. The pin goes back down when you let go, and if you grip the pin when it's up and let go of the handle, the pin pulls down hard as if it's being pulled down by a spring.

I think it's impossible to get the door card off to get a look at the innards without opening the door first.

I'd be grateful for any suggestions!

Sounds like the door is stuck in deadlock mode. As this is a security feature, you will need to visit a dealer, or call out car locksmith.

I think it's impossible to get the door card off to get a look at the innards without opening the door first.

Is it not possible to remove the passenger seat, then that would give you the space to remove the door card? You'll need a XZN/spline key to remove the seat.

I've done a couple of these and they're not too bad to do. Wind the window all the way down and you'll be able to lean in and remove the door panel. You've got the 3 screws below the door bin, 3 behind the door handle (the small cover pulls off to allow the large one to be slid) and 1 screw behind the cover next to the handle. Once the door panel is off, you'll be able to remove the grommet closest to the lock mechanism and if you give it some gentle taps with a hammer whilst operating the remote locking or have an assistant operate the locking switch on the drivers door, I find that they'll unlock.

The cure for the problem is to replace the lock at around £85.

Thanks for the replies.

OK, I'll try taking the panel off when I have time as I've done the rears before, and I'll let you know.

I've done a couple of these and they're not too bad to do. Wind the window all the way down and you'll be able to lean in and remove the door panel. You've got the 3 screws below the door bin, 3 behind the door handle (the small cover pulls off to allow the large one to be slid) and 1 screw behind the cover next to the handle. Once the door panel is off, you'll be able to remove the grommet closest to the lock mechanism and if you give it some gentle taps with a hammer whilst operating the remote locking or have an assistant operate the locking switch on the drivers door, I find that they'll unlock.

The cure for the problem is to replace the lock at around £85.

Hi I'm new here and I have the same problem with my Fabia. This time it's the rare passenger side door. It won't budge, I assume the same basic instructions that you've given for removing the door card on a shut door will apply in this case for the rare door?

Thanks.

Didn't know Fabias had 'rare' doors. Thought they all had them.

I've not actually had to do a rear door for this, I should think that the same principle applies. Take a look at the door trim panel fixings on the other door to give you a better idea.

The doors a probably rare, as it's not the 'hot' version of the car.

Didn't know Fabias had 'rare' doors. Thought they all had them.

Typo.

I've not actually had to do a rear door for this, I should think that the same principle applies. Take a look at the door trim panel fixings on the other door to give you a better idea.

The doors a probably rare, as it's not the 'hot' version of the car.

Thanks fordfan, i'll have a look and a try and see how it goes.

Don't forget to unplug the little light in the bottom corner of the door when taking off the door card mate

Alright, I had a look and the rear doors do not have any screws on them or anything like that like you would see on the front doors, probably except for the screw/s in the door handle. Apart from that I assume you just have to pull it off somehow. From the looks of it this is going to be quite difficult to do with a door that is locked shut. Any suggestions?

Another thing I have noticed is the boot, sometimes even though the car is unlocked using the central locking switch or even with the key while the doors unlock and open (Except the stuck one) the boot doesn't open. To get it to open I have to open another door and then the boot unlocks. Any one ever come across this and if so are these two things possibly related?

Thanks.

I've done a couple of these and they're not too bad to do. Wind the window all the way down and you'll be able to lean in and remove the door panel. You've got the 3 screws below the door bin, 3 behind the door handle (the small cover pulls off to allow the large one to be slid) and 1 screw behind the cover next to the handle. Once the door panel is off, you'll be able to remove the grommet closest to the lock mechanism and if you give it some gentle taps with a hammer whilst operating the remote locking or have an assistant operate the locking switch on the drivers door, I find that they'll unlock.

The cure for the problem is to replace the lock at around £85.

the way we do it is to open the rear door and use a long thin punch on to the retaining bolt that holds the lock in, a few taps with a hammer while someone does the unlock with key fob will usually get it open.

you can see the bolts thru the rear door hinges when open