Dont be put off by any posts you read on changing the door lock mech/Micro Switch, i had worked myself all up that i was going to be at it for a good couple of hours, but was done in about an hour, after fag brakes and a walk to halfords as i had lost one of my tools.

lots of people say to tape the window up but this is not needed, as you do not touch the motor side of the window mech there is nothing to cause it from falling.

Just a couple of pointers when doing the passenger side:

- Have a good LONG cross head screwdriver to hand for the lower pull handle screw

- And also a long Torx bit or an allen key style set for the lock plate by the handle.

in the end didnt use as many tools as i expected (or wanted, i like having lots of tools strew around)

in the end you only need:

- Torx bits

- Spline bit

- Trim tool

- Long cross head screwdriver

- Small cross head screwdriver

- Stanley blade

- Duckt tape

Was putting off the drivers side due to funds but if its this easy might just do it while the weather is good.

Give it a go.

If anyone would like a full octavia Write up done with pics, when i do the drivers side i could, including doorcard removal, All clips and trim to look out for. if there is not a full one done.

You may find it easy well done buddy. It was not difficult but more of a confidence thing and you have to remember not all folks are on same level.

That is why my guide that is pinned on front page is detailed and does cover a few things not necessarily needed.

http://www.briskoda....ch-microswitch/

Ok so don't need to tape up window if not replacing regulator, true...

I took more time taking pics that doing the job lol...

Check guide and see if you did it same way....

Good that you didn't find it too hard, as I'll be tackling my driver's side soon enough.

I'd appreciate the specific size of torx and spline bits necessary for the job

I need to do mine, but just dont think I have the confidence, and don't want to start it and be left with the door in pieces. or not working at all...

I need to do mine, but just dont think I have the confidence, and don't want to start it and be left with the door in pieces. or not working at all...

It really is not that bad, If you know how to do an oil change then this is job is not much harder.

infact i find it more awkward doing an oil change as i like to make sure the car is secure when its jacked up and that oil filter is a tricky place to get too with all the SAI pump, pipes and loom.

Just double check each job you do as you go along, may add 30 min to the job time but that way you know you are sure you have everything:

- Flick out:

Window switches/Mirror switch knob, Tweeter, grab handle

- Double check they are off and unplugged.

- Undo 7 torx screws holding door card to door, Put them in an old lunch box/Jam jar/little container to make sure they are safe.

- Check they are all out, and stored safely

- Remove screws from behind pull handles, 1 behind the pull open latch, think there are some behind the drivers door window switch.

- store these in the same tub if you know which is which, or get another tub for stage 2 of the screws.

- remember to LIFT the door card to take it off, Once its out you will see where it sits home for refitting, make a mental note or take a photo with your phone.

- Dont try to pull the door card striaght away, even if it feels like its loose have a look down the gap and see what is attached.

- This will be door pull cable and LED on drivers side.

- Have another look down the gap and make sure nothing is catching and lift the card away.

- Put this safely out of the way as you are finnished with this bit.

(you will have what looks like my photo above)

- Have a cuppa tea now, while sipping a hot brew have a good look in the door, See where things are placed, what route they take, have a nose in at the lock mech, do a little mental dry run in your head on how it will come out (dont forget its only held in place by to 2 spline bits so not much to go wrong)

At this stage:

- If you look at it and think.... Na im not going to get that out even moving the window mech then put it back together in reverse of above, but dont forget these doors are built to be crashed into so dont be to scared.

I found one of these tool sets handy for getting the locking plate off the door (the one that has the key hole in it)

http://reviews.halfords.com/4028/282459/reviews.htm

Undo it a couple of turns, give the plate a tug, nothing? a couple more turns, and tug, it will slid out easy.

To get the mech off one of these sets is always handy to have in the tool box:

http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_storeId_10001_catalogId_10151_productId_168943_langId_-1_categoryId_255215

You only need the 8mm for this job so if your local tool shop has an 8mm only then buy that to save a bit of cash, i have found a lot of spline bolts on VW spec cars are 8mm, the rest of mine still look new

Dont worry about the lock mech going anywhere when removing these bolts, the front doors are shaped so the mech will stay where it is and wont drop into the bottom of the door. well shouldent.

The bit that scared me the most was the door membrane.... the plastic sheet which stops the car getting wet.... but that was soon sorted with a sharp blade and some duct tape to seal it back up.

Just remember like any job. set your self some extra time aside for the job at hand. this isnt going to be a job that leaves the car undrivable, if you dont think the mech is going to come out, then stop and have a cuppa, try again or put it back together if you really dont think its coming out.

Another thing some people find handy when doing these types of jobs, Print off bowders 'how to guide' and take it out to the car with you, tick off the jobs once you have completed them, then once the mech is done, read it backwards for putting it back together, or take a pad and paper out with you to make notes and little sketches of how things sat if you feel you may forget how they went back together.

The only thing which is going to leave the door not working is if you forget to plug the new one in, everything in these units is all in 1.

I nearly forgot to put the pin back in which pokes through the door card, you know the one that pops up and down so you can see if its locked or not??? felt a bit silly but at the end of the day forgetting this pin is not going stop any part of the door from working, just wouldent have that shiny nob poping up and down